Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has been knighted for services to the community and inter-faith relations.
He became chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth in 1991.
Collecting his knighthood from the Queen Sir Jonathan said the honour came as the Jewish community had been feeling "vulnerable".
Footballer Les Ferdinand also collected an MBE and ex-Chelsea and Manchester Utd manager Dave Sexton an OBE.
Sir Jonathan was accompanied to Buckingham Palace by his wife, mother and mother-in-law.
He said: "Our two mothers are here. The Jewish thing is to try and give a little pride to your family, that means more to me than anything."
Home Farm worker John Underhill, 65, received a Royal Victorian Medal.
He worked at the Prince of Wales' Home Farm on the Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire for 20 years as head tractor driver before retiring in July.
He said receiving the honour made him feel "very proud".
Mr Underhill was responsible for the arable side of the farm, as well as winter stock.
"The prince said he misses me and wants me to come back and do some bits and pieces some time, which I'm going to," he said.
"I was there before it all went organic and it was amazing to see the results from there on. I never thought it would ever work.
"The first crop was such a muddle. Since they got the rotation right, everything fell into place."
Mr Underhill, from Tetbury, Gloucestershire, was accompanied by his wife and two daughters.