- The band’s guitarist, Brian May, is hired by Britain’s King Charles III. the third raised to the nobility.
- The 75-year-old will be knighted and will be called Sir Brian in the future, the palace said on the night.
“I see it as a kind of commission to do what you would expect a knight to do – fight for justice, fight for people who have no voice,” May told the British PA news agency.
It is the first time that King Charles has approved the New Year Honours. Traditionally, the royal family honors numerous people with medals and awards for their social commitment at the turn of the year.
Legend:
Brian May will be called Sir Brian from now on. Here he performs on the roof of Buckingham Palace during the ‘Party at the Palace’ concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee in London June 3, 2002.
Archive/Arthur Edwards/Handout via REUTERS
1107 people are on the honor list
This year, a total of 1,107 people are on the honors list, including several celebrities such as England women’s European champions Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White. You will receive medals of merit. National coach Sarina Wiegman receives an honorary award. As a non-British woman, the Dutchwoman cannot officially get a title.
Legend:
European soccer champion Leah Williamson is also one of the honorees.
REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Also knighted are politicians Julian Knight of the Conservative Party and Chris Bryant of the opposition Labor Party, who had hit ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson hard. The British ambassadors in Kyiv and Moscow, Melinda Simmons and Deborah Bronnert, are made “ladies”. The title corresponds to the knightly «Sir» for men.
At 18, Dara McAnulty is the youngest awardee. The Northern Irishman receives a British Empire medal for his commitment to environmental protection and work with the elderly. The oldest is 100-year-old Peter Davies, who works as a volunteer reader at an elementary school and also receives such a medal.