'Gilderoy Lockhart' actor Kenneth Branagh has been knighted!

Just yesterday, the actor who played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets had a new reason to flash his famous smile - Kenneth Branagh was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Friday in sight of his family and friends.

"It's been a hell of a year for the U.K.," Branagh said, speaking to the timeliness of his award with such major British events as the Queen's Jubilee and summer Olympics. "I feel very honored to be a tiny part of it."

Branagh, a successful actor and director at 51, is widely known outside of the Potter fandom for his great love of Shakespeare, his performances in major films such as Valkyrie, My Week With Marilyn and Frankenstein, and for movies he has directed, such as Marvel's Thor. He now joins the royal British ranks alongside fellow Potter co-stars Sir Michael Gambon and Dame Maggie Smith.

We at MuggleNet would like to wish Sir Branagh good luck - or rather - that he "breaks-a-leg" in all his theatrical endeavors to come!

Thanks to SnitchSeeker for the tip!