Photos and Video: Michael Crawford Awarded CBE by Queen For His Charity Work

Internationally celebrated stage and screen performer Michael Crawford was given his CBE today, at a Windsor Castle ceremony in London by Queen Elizabeth II, in honor of his long-standing work with children's charities.

Crawford commented earlier this year on the stately honor of officially becoming a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by stating, "It is the most wonderful surprise. My very first thought when I received the news was how proud my mother would be."

Talking to the UK press, the Actor, who is president of the Michael Crawford Children's Charity, the Sick Children's Trust in the UK, and the Lighthouse Foundation in Australian has long been a supporter of children's causes.

Speaking after receiving the honour from the Queen the actor noted: "My mother always told me to do things modestly - so I'm not really a good advertisement for any charity. I have my own, which is the Michael Crawford Children's Charity, which I have always put in a certain amount of my earnings to build it up as a legacy for when I've gone so that my grandchild will carry on with it. I'm also president of The Sick Children's Trust, which I've been for 25 years, which supplies homes for parents of children being treated for life-threatening diseases in a major city hospital, it gives them free accommodation. It also keeps the siblings with them, the whole family can stay together - I think that's quite healing."

Of note, Crawford was previously named an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - being award an OBE - in 1986 following the international success of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, for which he also received the Tony Award for Best Actor In A Musical.