Re Sir Ian McKellen , Sir Elton John and Sir Paul Sir Paul McCartney etc., do they have to defend the crown and the faith (or anything) or is a knighthood a non-encumbering responsibility wise?
PIMF
“non-encumbering honor”
I think it just enables you to go to parties you were never invited to before. And don’t forget about Sir Anthony “Call Me Tony” Hopkins.
You do have to submit to being called up to active duty when any dragons come into the village.
Wait for the Patrician to leave you an entirely blank piece of paper enclosed within an envelope addressed to Sir _______, Knight. You’ll know what to do.
I’m wondering if you get anything cool, like a plaque, a mug, or a personalised executive pen, or something. I guess a suit of armour and a warhorse is right out!.
You are only allowed to move two steps forward, then one step to the side.
Are people in the US army knighted? Cause I keep hearing them say
“sir, yes, sir!”
From http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page489.asp ,
near the bottom of the page:
So no military duties are owed. I don’t think there really are any duties, per se, other than to not break any laws or perform treason (in which case the knighthood can be revoked). It appears that nowadays it’s just an honor, not an obligation.
Is a comprehensive list of modern knighthoods available on the internet? It seems as though only entertainers make the news. I’d like to hear about some British scientists or soldiers who’ve received the honor recently.
Some of our British friends can correct me on this, but it appears to this American that it is more or less required for an officer of flag rank (Admiral, General) to be knighted. I can’t recall recently of hearing of one that wasn’t, but I am sure I will shortly if there is such.
Fred Hoyle was knighted. At least one mathematician, Michael Atiyah was knighted. I am sure there were other scientific types, although I cannot name any.
William Thomson was first knighted and then later Baroned (Baronized?).
There are no obligations, other than to go along with the whole charade simply to provide good PR for the so-called royal family (expensive, pampered, parasitic incompetents, IMHO) and themselves.
The Royal Orders of Knighthood “Knight Grand Cross, Knight Grand Commander, and Knight Commander” are the higher classes of the Orders of Chivalry. Each Order will maintain a registry, but I do not know if that is on the web (still looking).
The Knights Bachelor do not constitute a Royal Order, but comprise the surviving representation of the ancient State Orders of Knighthood. After the Register of Knights Bachelor lapsed, a voluntary association was formed in 1908 with the primary object of continuing the various registers (dating from 1257) and obtaining the uniform registration of every Knight Bachelor.
This association is now known as The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor by Royal Command, again their records may be available online.
(source: Whitakers Almanack)
For the most part it is a cheap and cheerful way to give public recognition to both British and foreign (as honourary knighthoods) individuals who have made a significant contribution to the public good.
IIRC one excellent piece of PR was the public knighting of Sir Francis Chichester when he came home after his single-handed circumnavigation, a similar gesture towards Steve Redgrave at the Sydney Olympics would have been well received and was an opportunity missed.
If I had any reservations about the system it would be the more-or-less automatic awards to senior civil servants and diplomats. Distinctions should be earned.
Not that I know of, nor is there any easy way to find this information in print, although individual knights will usually be listed in the UK edition of Who’s Who. What however you can find are each separate Honours List. As an example, the most recent one for civilian honours can be found on the Downing Street webpage below. The various knights are mostly listed towards the top of the document.
http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page5332.asp
A rough breakdown of the 29 men who were created knights bachelor would be something like this.
public officials 8
academics 6
businessmen 5
theatre directors 2
politicians 2
painter 1
journalist 1
football manager 1
singer 1
ecclesiastical official 1
trade unionist 1
Of the other knights on the list, the knight grand cross of the Order of the Bath, the two knights commander of the Bath and the knight grand cross of the Order of the British Empire were, by definition, public officials of various sorts. The female equivalent of a knighthood is dame commander of the Order of the British Empire and, of the three women awarded that, two were academics and one was a public official.
This bears out the standard view that, if you want a knighthood, it helps if you hold a senior job in the public services or are a professor.
The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood (St James’s Palace, London S.W.1) would presumably have full records of who has been knighted, when and why. But they don’t appear to have a web presence.
I have no idea where there would be a full record (London Gazette? College of Heralds?). However my old man was a knight (KCVO) as he had a long military career and was quite high ranking at the end.
He got a KCVO rather than the usual KtB as he had worked for the royal household as well.
The award is almost an entitlement (like a DSO) that doesn’t mean it isn’t greatly appreciated by those who recieve it.
My Mum was made up with being called Lady Owl too.