Queen Elizabeth Makes Bono a Knight

Belonging to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the lead singer of U2 didn’t give Bono quite enough accolades. At least Queen Elizabeth II didn’t think so, because for Christmas she’s making Bono a knight. The British Embassy in Ireland, in its press release, said, "Her Majesty the Queen has appointed Bono to be an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to the music industry and for his humanitarian work."

Honorary knighthoods are awarded periodically to non-British citizens if they have had an important influence in the U.K. Irish rocker Bob Geldof, who recently worked with Bono to organize the Live 8 concerts, was honored with knighthood following his Live Aid fundraising concerts. Other non-Brits who have been knighted by the Queen include Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Placido Domingo, Rudy Giulani, and Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal. However, only British citizens are called "Sir" or "Dame" and physically knighted in a ceremony where the Queen actually taps them on the shoulder with her sword.

Bono has already received much recognition for his contributions to music and the world. He has won 22 Grammy awards, and in 2005 he was named Time’s Person of the Year (although he shared the title with Bill and Melinda Gates) and in 2003 he received France’s Legion of Honor. He has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair makes recommendations to the Queen about who should be honored with knighthood. On Blair’s website, he stated that he is delighted Bono has chosen to accept the award. "I'll leave it to others far more knowledgeable than me to talk about U2's music. All I'll say is that, along with millions of others right across the world, I am a huge fan," said Blair, who in his student days played in a rock band. Blair said that Bono has earned the award for his remarkable humanitarian work and for his outstanding contribution to music.

"But I feel a little more qualified to talk about your personal commitment to tackling global poverty and, in particular, to Africa," Blair said, in a letter to Bono posted on his website. "I want personally to thank you for the invaluable role you played in the run up to the Gleneagles G8 Summit. Without your personal contribution, we could not have achieved the results we did. So thank you and I look forward to continuing to work together to maintain momentum on Africa, and ensure leaders around the world meet the promises they have made."

Some members of the British press were not as pleased with the announcement of Bono’s honorary knighthood, saying that the announcement is just another example of Blair championing awards to his celebrity friends, and that there were many other people who deserved recognition more than Bono. According to the Evening Standard, ex-Conservative minister Anne Widdecombe said, "I fail to understand why Bono should be singled out for an early announcement when the honors list is full of people who have worked hard. It is demeaning to them and is a typical New Labour manipulated news stunt."

However, Blair’s letter in praise of Bono doesn’t seem to have any political agenda other than honoring Bono’s lobbying of wealthy nations to increase aid to Africa. "I know from talking to you how much these causes matter to you," Blair wrote. "I know as well how knowledgeable you are about the problems we face and how determined you are to do all you can to help overcome them. You have tirelessly used your voice to speak up for Africa."

In a statement on the band’s website, U2 reports that Bono is "very flattered to be honored, particularly if the honor…opens doors for his long-standing campaigning work against extreme poverty in Africa."