As in 'Sir' Richard Branson or 'Sir' Paul McCartney?
2007-03-18 13:15:01 · 6 answers · asked by Westbound 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Royalty
Some titles are hereditary. A baronet is given the honorific "Sir". Men with more senior titles get to be called "Lord". A knighthood is an honour granted by the Queen on the recommendation of her Government. Some other countries in the British Commonwealth also recommend honours to the Queen. The Queen can also award knighthoods at her pleasure. There are many orders of chivalry in which one may be knighted, the most senior is the Order of the Garter but others include the Orders of the Thistle, the Bath, St Michael and St George, the British Empire and the Royal Victorian Order.
2007-03-18 13:37:11 · answer #1 · answered by tentofield 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tentofield is right. Some of the orders he mentions - knights of the Garter, Thistle, and Victorian order - are chosen by the Queen personally. Most others are chosen by a committee. Branson got his 'for services to business', McCartney for 'sevices to the arts'. Genrally they have to have performed some kind of public service. The knights of the Bath are generally in the military or civil service, the knights of St Michael and St George are generally diplomats. Long-serving MPs and civil servants are offered knighthoods almost automatically.
Commonwealth citizens living in Britain or smaller countries which remain part of the honours system are eligible; Canadian Sir George Bain, who's lived in Britain since the 60s, was knighted a few years ago for services to 'higher education and the low pay commission'.
And since 1964 I think only one hereditary baronetcy has been created, for Sir Denis Thatcher, when his wife wanted to thank him for his supporting role during her years as PM.
2007-03-19 07:30:54 · answer #2 · answered by Dunrobin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Such as Sir Elton John for an example? It's bestowed up on them by the Queen of England. Therefore her Majesty Queen ElizabethII. Sofar as I understand it, they must have done execeptional work to qualify for that title. They must proof that or they being named.
2007-03-19 16:52:30 · answer #3 · answered by angelikabertrand64 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Knighthood from the queen
2007-03-18 20:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by bill 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
knighthood, but they get that by donating a lot of money to britain or by giving britain a good image
2007-03-18 20:27:32 · answer #5 · answered by Truck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
brown nosing
2007-03-19 02:07:32 · answer #6 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋