A question the British DU'ers could answer.

[terrya]

Last night, I was watching "World Idol" and Sir Elton John performed a song.

Which got me to wondering about knighthoods.

I believe, if I'm not mistaken, that the Queen doesn't have any say so as to which men will receive a knighthood (or which women will be given the female equivilent...a Damehood? No, that can't be right)

The Prime Minister's office sends a list to Buckingham Palace of people to be knighted, right? How do they decide which person will get this honor? On what criteria (for instance, why did Mick Jagger get a knighthood, but Keith Richards didn't?)

Thanks in advance,
Terry

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Basically, Elton got it for charity work, Mick for sales (contributing to

exports) and Keith has often stated his position on titles, so he will never get one (good boy). The Government decides, AFAIK.

[LuLu550]

2. and how did you get your "Lordship"

you Lordship??
Or is that something you are born into, Sir Screaming?

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Lordships are hereditary, often denoting a barony or baronetcy.

I'm a Baron, but Baron Byron sounds dreadful, so Lord will do.

[LuLu550]

4. I disagree

Baron Byron is fabulous! Perhaps Baron Billy Byron....
NO! Baron Bryan Byron...yeah, that's the ticket....

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. It'd make a good tongue twister...

Brian's buying Baron Byron's brine. Try saying that thirty times!

[qwertyMike]

6. They used to award Life Peerages

That meant you would be called 'Lord' for your lifetime. But they couldn't be passed on to your Kids.

Usually former Prime Ministers Like Lord (Harold) Wilson, Lord (Ted) Heath.
And to extremely hard working public servants and 'tycoons'.

My fave is Lord Fitt - from Belfast - Gerry Fitt, a former plumber in the shipyards. For his work as a (Catholic) MP in trying to straddle the religious differences in Ulster.

The hereditary Peerages (Lords) in the UK date back to the time after the Norman invasion in 1066.

I think they are close to being abolished.

/mike

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. Of course, Life Peers. I'd forgotten. They're basically a patronage tool

for the incumbent government.

[qwertyMike]

8. David Bowie

turned down an Award. OBE or something

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0300whatson/newandreviews/content_objectid=13749070_method=full_siteid=50061_headline=-Secret-list-reveals-300-people-who-have-turned-down-honours-name_page.html

[qwertyMike]

9. Elton

They call him Dame Elton John in Britain.

His 'name' - the one he prefers is Doreen


Ben Affleck