LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II has appointed the Duchess of Cornwall to the highest female rank in the Royal Victorian Order, Buckingham Palace said Monday.

The announcement that Camilla has been made a Dame Grand Cross comes on the day of her seventh wedding anniversary with Prince Charles, the queen’s son.

Awards under the Royal Victorian Order, which was founded in 1896 by Queen Victoria, are given by the queen to people who have served her or the monarchy in a personal way. They are bestowed independently of the prime minister’s office.

Once vilified as the old flame who poisoned Charles’ first marriage to Princess Diana, Camilla has become an integral member of the royal family since she married the prince on April 9, 2005 — eight years after Diana’s death.

Since the couple’s civil ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor, the British public has warmed to Camilla and the 64-year-old has carried out hundreds of royal engagements and taken on a wide range of patronages.

She also has traveled extensively with the prince on official visits, including a recent tour of Scandinavia with stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo.

Lately, Camilla was seen stepping out with the queen and the former Kate Middleton — who married Prince William — for an appearance in London.

Buckingham Palace said Camilla will be invested with the insignia of her rank at a later date.

New Wouk novel coming out in fall

NEW YORK — At age 96, Herman Wouk is ready for a fresh start. The author of “The Caine Mutiny,” “The Winds of War” and other classics has a new novel and has switched publishers after decades with Little, Brown and Co.

Wouk’s “The Lawgiver,” coming out this fall from Simon & Schuster, is the story of making a new movie about Moses, complete with references to Skype and Twitter.

In a statement issued Monday, Wouk noted that his first novel, “Aurora Dawn,” was also released by Simon & Schuster, in 1947.

Spears asks judge to let her fiance help manage her life

LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears has requested that a judge appoint her fiance as a co-conservator and help oversee her personal affairs along with her father.

If a judge approves the request later this month, Jason Trawick would join Jamie Spears as having control over the singer’s personal decisions, including medical care.

The request was filed Friday through Spears’ court-appointed attorney, Samuel Ingham III. Trawick has served as the 30-year-old singer’s agent and appeared in court with his future wife at a March 22 court hearing sealed from the public.

The couple announced in December that they were engaged after dating since 2009.

Jamie Spears and an attorney have controlled the Grammy-winning singer’s personal and financial affairs since February 2008, after months of Spears’ erratic behavior.

Woman is charged with stalking Baldwin

NEW YORK — A Canadian woman has been arrested on charges of stalking Alec Baldwin.

Genevieve Sabourin of Montreal was arrested Sunday after the “30 Rock” star filed a complaint. Police say Sabourin showed up at Lincoln Center, where Baldwin was, on April 5 and was removed by security. They say she also turned up at his Long Island home March 31.

Baldwin told police he met the woman a few years ago and that she has called him repeatedly and professed her love for him.

‘Rock Center’ news show moved again

NEW YORK — Brian Williams’ “Rock Center” newsmagazine moves this week to its third time slot in less than six months.

NBC insists the show is in no danger of cancellation despite low ratings.

“Rock Center” will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m., an hour earlier than it had been airing.

The show got off to a fast start with Bob Costas’ surprise interview with former Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, who denied child sexual-abuse allegations against him.

But in six of its last 10 airings, it failed to reach even 3 million viewers. NBC News executive David Corvo said Monday the network will give it time.