Queen guitarist
Brian May
is one of the personalities granted the title of 'sir' at the traditional New Year's and first-ever royal awards given by King Charles III,
1,107
in all.
Among the winners also 548 women.
Brian May, recognizable among thousands with his long curly hair that has always been whitened, had played the national anthem "God Save the Queen"
perched on the roof of Buckingham Palace
in 2002 for the 50-year reign of Elizabeth II
, and he was already he was knighted by the Queen in 2005. In June 2022 he had again played for her on the occasion of her 70th regnal anniversary.
Now the new recognition, motivated by his "services to music and charities".
The 75-year-old musician, who is also an astrophysicist and animal rights activist, told the PA that he received his 'knight bachelor' title as a pledge to do 'the things one would expect of a person with this title: fight for justice, for people who have no voice".
Among the winners is the English designer
Mary Quant
,
inventor of the miniskirt
now 92 years old, now "Honorary Companion", and the artist
Grayson Perry
, winner of the prestigious Turner Prize in 2003. And again the British journalist Catherine Belton, denounced by a number of Russian oligarchs for her book on Russian President Vladimir Putin's entourage, honored for her services to journalism, actor Stephen Graham and athlete Denise Lewis, 2000 Olympic heptathlon champion, elevated to the rank of 'From me'.
These royal honors are awarded twice a year, on New Year's Day and on the King's official birthday, always celebrated in June, regardless of the monarch's actual date of birth (14 November 1948 for Charles III).
