U2 front man, and humanitarian campaigner Bono has been awarded an honorary knighthood at a ceremony in Dublin.
Accompanied by band members The Edge and Adam Clayton, as well as his wife and children, the singer received the honour from British Ambassador David Reddaway.
Because the singer, 46, is Irish, technically he will not be able to call himself a ‘Sir’ – a source of jokes at the small gathering. Bono quipped “You have permission to call me anything you want except Sir.” Alternatives he suggested were “Lord of lords, your demi-godness.”
Bono’s official new title is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) and he said that accepting it would make it easier to campaign about Third World Debt with politicians around the world.
He said: “An award like this actually really helps me get through a few doors I wouldn’t get through and that’s the truth, that’s the way the world is.”
British Prime Minister did not attend the ceremony held at David Reddaway’s official residence, but did send a letter, saying the honour proved that links between Ireland and the UK are getting better.
Blair said: “I’ll leave it to others far more knowledgeable than me to talk about U2’s music – all I’ll say is that, along with millions of others right across the world, I’m a huge fan. It has been a great year for this award to happen in, and it does feel like this country and Great Britain are closer than they have ever been.”
Previous non-British nationals who have recieved Knighthoods include the other Irish rock star campaigner Bob Geldof as well as Placido Domingo and Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg.