Rowling collecting her 'keys to London'
Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has been honoured with the freedom of the City of London.
The author, who has sold more than 450 million copies of her books, was given the accolade in recognition of her services to children's literature.
Rowling was given the honour at the Mansion House in London, at which she was presented with a framed parchment certificate.
She said: "I am prouder than I can say to be given the freedom of the City, which, on top of all the known benefits - and few people realise this - entitles me to a free pint in the Leaky Cauldron and a ten Galleon voucher to spend in Diagon Alley."
Ten things you didn't know about JK Rowling:
10 Things You Didn't Know About J.K Rowling
(01 of10)
Open Image ModalAs a child JK Rowling's favourite book was The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.PHOTO: PA
(02 of10)
Open Image ModalJK Rowling insisted on using British actors for the Harry Potter filmsPHOTO: PA
(03 of10)
Open Image ModalJK Rowling and her husband (an anaesthetist) have no plans to stop working despite her multi million pound fortune, as she thinks working sets a good example to her childrenPHOTO: PA
(04 of10)
Open Image ModalJK Rowling goes on Harry Potter fan sites - she once visited the chatroom of popular site Mugglenet, and got told to keep quiet by regulars as she didn't know enough about Harry PotterPHOTO: PA
(05 of10)
Open Image ModalJK Rowling typed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on a typewriter PHOTO: PA
(06 of10)
Open Image ModalAfter graduating, and before starting the Harry Potter books, JK Rowling worked as a researcher at Amnesty InternationalPHOTO: PA
(07 of10)
Open Image ModalBefore she finished the books, she let Alan Rickman in on the whole story, so that he could play the character of Severus Snape better in the filmsPHOTO: PA
(08 of10)
Open Image ModalHarry Potter and JK Rowling have the same birthday, 31st JulyPHOTO: PA
(09 of10)
Open Image ModalHer preferred Hogwarts house would be Gryffindor (the same house as Harry, Ron and Hermoine)PHOTO: PA
(10 of10)
Open Image ModalHer first fan letter was from a reader called Francesca Gray. She thought JK Rowling was a man and started her letter, 'Dear Sir...'PHOTO: PA