From Queen to knighthood: King Charles honors Brian May in first knighting ceremony
Misty Severi
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Brian May, the lead guitarist and co-founder of legendary British rock band Queen, was knighted by King Charles III on Tuesday. It was the king’s first knighting ceremony as the British monarch.
May, who will now go by Sir Brian May, was made a knight bachelor at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity. May is also an astrophysicist and was granted his Ph.D. in astrophysics in 2007.
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“I will do my very best to be worthy,” May said after he was named to the list in December.
May also posted a photo of the ceremony on Instagram on Tuesday with the caption “No words.”
Nearly 1,100 other people were also knighted in the investiture ceremony, which is when the honor is awarded in person by a member of the royal family.
“Maybe a few more people will listen to me than would otherwise, you know, if it’s Sir Brian on the phone,” May told the Associated Press.
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The rocker now joins the ranks of Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Rod Stewart, and Sir Mick Jagger, all given the same honor by the late Queen Elizabeth II. She died after 70 years on the throne last year. Charles is now the king, and his eldest son, Prince William, is the heir apparent.
The ceremony was part of Charles’s celebration of Commonwealth Day, which took place on Monday and began a week full of activities. A coronation ceremony will also occur on May 6 for the first time in 70 years and will see Charles be formally crowned as the United Kingdom’s monarch. His wife, Camilla, will be crowned queen consort.