Have we really had any legally Serving Presidents in the last 25 years?

Question

Article 13 of the US Constitution prohibits any US Citizen from accepting a title of nobility or royalty. Beginning with President Reagan, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and given the title Sir Knight, a title of Nobility and fidelity to the British Monarch. Likewise, both Presidents Bushs have been knighted by Queen Elizabeth with the additional proclaimation "for services rendered to the United Kingdom." President Clinton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth as well. According to Article 13 of the Constitution, accepting these titles would equate to renoucing citizenship. Some people say the title simply honorary. Indeed it is not the title of Knight p[laces a flag and coat of arms in the recipients name in the grand hall. The title is also hereditery in the UK.
Presidents previous to Reagan had been offered knighthood, for example Eisenhower. Many US generals also offered knighthood by Queens and Kings of England. All had the good sense of declining the offers.

Answer 1

There IS no Article 13 of the United States Constitution.

Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution states, "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

Former presidents currently hold no office of Profit or Trust, and the gentlemen you mention did not accept the honors in question during their terms in office. Incidentally, Eisenhower did accept a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

The incumbent President has received no knighthood or other honor from Her Majesty, and could/would not do so without the express consent of the Congress of the United States.

Now that I've set you straight on U.S. law, let's chat for a brief moment about U.K. law. Unlike a hereditary peerage, an honor such as a knighthood is not a title subject to inheritance. Sons of knights do not become knights upon the death of their fathers, etc.

Note: Life peerages are like knighthoods, and are not inherited.

Answer 2

Under British Law foreigners cannot be Knighted by HM. They can confer a title on them which is part of the knighthood, but no President has knelt before the Queen to be knighted, we don't kneel to royalty.

Answer 3

There are only seven articles in the U.S. Constitution. There are 26 amendments. Neither the articles nor the amendments mention a prohibition on accepting a title of nobility. But, maybe you have a different version of the Constitution than the one which is in front of me.

Answer 4

The titles are honorary, with no American actually becoming a knight. American generals might have refused to be knighted, but General Eisenhower did not. Eisenhower was knighted before he became president.

Answer 5

All knighthoods confer ed by the Queen on American citizens are "honorary" knighthoods that do not confer the right to be have one's given name preceded by the word sir (e.g., Sir Bill, Sir Ronald, etc.) and therefore are technically compliant with U.S. law. Knighthoods given to citizens of the U.K., Canada, etc., are not honorary and do confer the right to be have one's given name preceded by the word sir (e.g., Sir Bill, Sir Ronald, etc.).

Answer 6

That is a good point that I never knew or thought of. The title of Knight is meaningless anymore. If Queenie will give it to Elton John, then I would refuse it if offered to me.