Andy Murray will start his 2017 as the youngest man ever knighted in modern Britain after being named to the New Year Honour's list by Queen Elizabeth on Friday.

The 29-year-old tennis world number one headed a list that also included knighthoods for Olympic athlete Mo Farah and Kinks musician Ray Davies, and damehoods for Olympic heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and British-American Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Local media reported that Murray has already asked Wimbledon to keep referring to him by his name and not "Sir Andy" as would be the custom.

Women made up more than half of those being honoured this year and the list also included the greatest ever proportion - 9.3 per cent - of ethnic minority recipients of the Order of the British Empire.

(IOL)