Ringo Starr has finally received his knighthood at Buckingham Palace, 21 years after his bandmate Paul McCartney accepted the honour.
The 77-year-old music legend, real name Richard Starkey, was accompanied by his wife Barbara Bach as he knelt in front of Prince William for the ceremony, before posing outside and flashing his signature peace sign for photographers.
The award, which honours his services to music, comes 53 years after The Beatles were awarded the MBE, and Starr expressed his gratitude to finally follow in McCartney’s footsteps with his second award.
Speaking with reporters outside, he said: “It means a lot actually. It means recognition for the things we’ve done. I was really pleased to accept this.” He went on to joke: “I’ll be wearing it at breakfast.”
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He was congratulated by his former bandmate Paul’s oldest daughter Mary, who shared a screenshot of a Facetime call she had with Starr and his wife following the ceremony.
Meanwhile, asked if he wants to be called “Sir Ringo Starr” now, the drummer joked: “I don’t know yet. It’s new and I don’t know how you use it properly,” before saying to reporters: “But I expect you to use it.”
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Speaking previously about the honour, he said: “It’s great! It’s an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love.”
McCartney was knighted in 1977, but John Lennon and George Harrison did not receive a similar honour. They all did however get the MBE.
Lennon gave his own MBE back in 1969 in a protest against the Vietnam War, and claimed that the band smoked marijuana in a palace toilet before getting their awards – something Starr has always reportedly insisted he can’t remember.
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The 77-year-old first started playing drums when he was 17 and joined the Beatles just five years later. In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as part of the band, he was also inducted again two years ago as a solo artist.
In 1965, he was also recognised with a Member of the Order of the British Empire award.
The honours list is usually released two times a year, with more than 1,100 people receiving honours this year.
The Queen approves the list set up by the British government and it recognises extraordinary people including academics, politicians, journalists, authors and athletes.