Celeb Trivia You Should KnowStars: They're just like us! These are lists of fascinating facts about famous people - who, despite all the glitz and glamour, are well-rounded, full-formed human beings. Mostly.
Here we present a list of famous people who have been knighted, ranked by fame and popularity by fans of British chivalry, like you. Being knighted is one of the highest honors that an individual can hope to receive. A variety of famous people have been knighted for their contributions to music, film, theater, and charity work. In special cases, honorary knighthoods can be bestowed upon worthy candidates from foreign countries.
Who is the most famous person who has been knighted? Ronald Reagan tops our list. Reagan received an honorary knighthood in 1989 from Queen Elizabeth II. After the ceremony, Reagan stated, “I feel greatly honored. I can't say how proud I am.” Four years after Reagan received the honor, his vice president and President at the time, George H.W. Bush, also received the honorary knighthood. Other "Sirs" knighted in England include Sean Connery, Bono, and Michael Caine.
Several famous musicians have been knighted. English super star Paul McCartney was given the honor in 1997 and Elton John was knighted the following year. Actors Ben Kingsley and Patrick Stewart have also received the great honor of knighthood, as has the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. The French have also bestowed honorary knighthoods upon recipients, including two American actors of classic and modern cinema, Clint Eastwood and Robert De Niro.
What do you think of the famous people who have been knighted?
McQueen became the first Black filmmaker to win an Oscar for best picture for his film 12 Years a Slave. That film also earned him a BAFTA and Golden Globe. McQueen is also known for the film Shame, which won a BAFTA for outstanding British film, as well as his series Small Axe, which is about the lives of West Indian immigrants to London in the 1960s to 1980s.
"Congratulations Sir Steve McQueen! The Oscar, @BAFTA, and Golden Globe winning director today received his Knighthood from The Princess Royal during an Investiture Ceremony at Windsor Castle," read a tweet from the official The Royal Family Twitter account on March 15, 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II's daughter Princess Anne stepped in to do the honors.
Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was knighted on December 30, 2020, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's New Year's honors list. The honor was due to both his success on the track as well as his activism relating to the Black Lives Matter movement.
In 2000, Sean Connery was knighted by the Queen. Connery is a firm supporter of Scotland's Independence and it is believed that this stance caused a delay in his knighthood.
