Zeffirelli receives honorary knighthood

Franco Zeffirelli, who has directed a series of Shakespeare movies and often cast British actors, has received an honorary knighthood.

The 81-year-old Italian director received the honour at a ceremony at the residence of the British ambassador to Italy.

Zeffirelli cannot call himself "sir" - a distinction reserved for citizens of Britain and its former colonies - but can use the initials KBE - Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - after his name.

The knighthood was "in recognition of the valuable services you rendered to British performing arts," the British ambassador, Sir Ivor Roberts, told Zeffirelli during the ceremony.

Zeffirelli's films include the Oscar-nominated The Taming of the Shrew, which starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor as the duelling lovers.