A physicist involved in one of the most monumental scientific discoveries of our time has been knighted.

Sir Tom Kibble, a professor at Imperial College’s physics department, was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list after his work led to the prediction of the mass-giving particle, the Higgs Boson.

The physicist from Sheen said: "I was very gratified by this public recognition of the work that for me has been a continual enjoyment.

"My children were delighted, and are all keen to attend the investiture if they possibly can.

"Since the announcement I have dealt with a huge stream of congratulatory emails.

"My only regret is that my wife, who died almost a decade ago, could not have been here to join in the celebrations, which she would have thoroughly enjoyed."

The professor’s colleague, Sir Tejinder Virdee, was also knighted after leading on the design and construction of one of the detectors that found the Higgs Boson.

Sir Tom’s pioneering work in the 1960s led to the mass-giving particle theory, now known as the Higgs mechanism.

Alongside contributions from Peter Higgs, François Englert, and other physicists he published the third research paper in 1964 that described how elementary particles acquired mass.

The ideas led to the detection of a Higgs Boson particle in Geneva - one of the most important moments in scientific history.

Sir Tom congratulated his colleague Sir Tejinder, known as Jim, and said he had long been an admirer of his work.