Bono receives honorary knighthood

 

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42742000/jpg/_42742723_bonopa_203.jpg

 

U2 singer Bono has accepted an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin.

 

Fellow band members The Edge and Adam Clayton joined the frontman's wife and four children at the British ambassador David Reddaway's official residence.

 

The rock star and campaigner, 46, is not entitled to be called "Sir" because he is not a British citizen.

 

He said: "You have permission to call me anything you want except Sir." But he did suggest alternatives: "Lord of lords, your demi-godness," he joked.

 

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair described the star as an inspiration in the fight against global poverty, in a letter that was read out at the small gathering.

 

Bono receiving his honorary knighthood from British Ambassador David Reddaway

Bono received the honour from British Ambassador David Reddaway

Bono has become a vocal campaigner about issues of aid and fair trade, particularly in Africa.

 

"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'm a huge fan," Mr Blair wrote.

 

The U2 singer's new title is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

 

He said the accolade would help him secure talks about Third World debt with politicians around the world.

 

"An award like this actually really helps me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through and that's the truth, that's the way the world is," he said.

 

'New era'

 

He added: "It has been a great year for this award to happen in, and it does feel like this country and Great Britain are closer than they have ever been."

 

He was planning a more low-key ceremony until he saw last week's historic talks between Democratic Unionist Party leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, he said.

 

"I wasn't even going to have a bit of a do, I was going to slip it in, keep it very, very quiet," the star said.

 

"But when I saw Big Ian sitting down there with Gerry Adams I just thought this is the end of an era, but the beginning of a much better one."

 

Other previous non-British recipients of the KBE include Bob Geldof, Bill Gates, Placido Domingo, Rudolf Giuliani and Steven Spielberg.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6507065.stm

Pah. Don't believe in Knighthoods. <_< Honorary or otherwise.

Think he deserves it!!! Well done Paul :yahoo:

ya he deserves it but somethies i think all these honouries and awards are a waste of space

"An award like this actually really helps me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through and that's the truth, that's the way the world is," he said.

-_-

 

-_-

 

I think he means it in a good way, as in all his endless work for charity, the award helps get more done. I can't imagine what else he would mean, I mean he is the most famous rock star on the planet and is worth nearly a billion apperently, so ..... :lol:

I've never understood why people from the Irish Rep (eg Bono, Bob G, Terry Wogan) are so keen to accept honorary knighthoods from Lizzie. :wacko:

I've never understood why people from the Irish Rep (eg Bono, Bob G, Terry Wogan) are so keen to accept honorary knighthoods from Lizzie. :wacko:

 

Well Bob and Terry both live and work in the UK and have done for a long time, so I can sortof understand, but Bono I don't get. If you went up to 99% of the Irish population and asked wether they would accept the award they would tell you to f*** off. :lol:

I would also tell you to f*** off. Not that I'm ever likely to be offered a Knighthhood or Damehood or somesuch.