JK steals Cherie's magic

As if with the flick of a magical wand, the creator of Harry Potter has replaced Cherie Blair as Britain's most powerful woman.

JK Rowling is in 40th place in the latest list of the world's 100 top women compiled by the U.S. business magazine Forbes.

But while the once-struggling single mother soared from 85th place last year, the Prime Minister's wife tumbled 50 places to 62nd.

Miss Rowling, 39, who gave birth to her third child, a daughter called Mackenzie, at the start of the year, has earned a £650million fortune from her Harry Potter series.

In the UK alone, her latest, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, sold more than two million copies within 24 hours of its release on July 16.

By contrast, Mrs Blair has enjoyed far less success in the past year.

Sales of her first book, The Goldfish Bowl, have been described as ' disappointing' and she has been accused of cashing in on her husband's position with money-spinning lectures.

The magazine looks at a woman's public visibility, measured by press exposure, and economic impact.

The only other Britons in the top 100 are Rose Marie Bravo, chief executive of Burberry, in 63rd place and the Queen, a humble 75th.

Irish president Mary McAleese was ahead of them all, ranked 21st in the world. Top of the pile for the second year running is U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, closely followed by Yi Wu, China's vice-premier.

Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko is third, followed by Philippines President Gloria Arroyo; Margaret Whitman, chief executive of eBay; Xerox boss Anne Mulcahy; Sallie Krawcheck, chief financial officer of Citigroup; Brenda Barnes, chief executive of Sara Lee; chat show host Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates's wife Melinda, who plays a major role in their charitable foundation.