Mr Causley's poetry brought him many awards including The Queen's Gold medal and the TS Eliot award.

BBC: Panoramic shot of Charles Causley's house

"I wanted to win the gold medal as a gift for Thailand's Queen, who celebrated her 72nd birthday last Thursday, " said Udomporn, who was congratulated on the phone by Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra minutes after her triumph.

CNN: Thai gold as Asian athletes excel

They will view artefacts like an ancient Celtic firedog which would have stood next to the hearth in an ancient roundhouse, a gold snuff box given to explorer HM Stanley by Queen Victoria after he found Livingstone, and a porcelain tureen and dish which was made in China in about 1760, part of a dinner service for a wealthy European family.

BBC: Wales, Land of the Red Dragon: Chongqing exhibition

Mr Beales dedicated his life to roses, breeding varieties for the Queen, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles, and winning 19 Gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show.

BBC: Peter Beales

Viewers are being asked to vote on their favourite moments, such as Mo Farah's gold medal wins, Ellie Simmonds' swimming triumphs and even the Queen's James Bond-style skydive.

BBC: National Television Awards to honour London 2012

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh also toured vaults full of gold bars during their tour.

BBC: Queen questions financial crisis

Cyclist Bradley Wiggins, who is based in Ecclestone, Chorley, has been conferred a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours list after winning the Tour de France and then gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

BBC: John and Penelope Clough

The biggest cheers were reserved for the present queen, who was carried aboard a specially-converted royal barge, opulently draped in red and gold.

CNN: Eyes of world on spectacular Thames royal pageant