Bill Gates receives honorary knighthood
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth stands with Microsoft chairman and philanthropist Bill Gates after presenting him with an honorary knighthood at Buckingham Palace, London, March 2, 2005.
Sir Bill Not quite. Proclaiming himself "humbled and delighted," Microsoft founder Bill Gates received an honorary knighthood Wednesday from Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ—an accolade that allows the recipient to use "KBE" after his
(1) , but not to put "Sir" in front of it.
One of the world’s richest men, Gates, 49, was
(2) honored for his charitable activities around the world and his contribution
(3) enterprises in Britain.
Past recipients of the honorary knighthood
(4) from Irish singer Bob Geldof to former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
"This
(5) is particularly poignant given the deep connections Microsoft enjoys
(6) the United Kingdom," said Gates, whose company employs about 2000 people in
(7) .
Gates’ royal honor—bestowed by the queen on the advice of the
(8) —was announced in January 2004, but a "mutually convenient" date to
(9) it had not been available until now.
British recipients of knighthoods are entitled to be
(10) with a "Sir" before their names. The honor was long the
(11) of senior soldiers, judges and other servants of the state, but recent years have seen the creation of Sir Paul McCartney,
(12) Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John.
As an American, Gates is not entitled to use
(13) before his name, but he can put the initials KBE—Knight Commander of the
(14) Empire—after his name.
Gates joins a roster of American
(15) that includes former presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush, comedian
(16) Hope, retired U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks and former Secretary of
(17) Colin Powell.
Gates said he was proud of what he called
(18) "special relationship" with Britain.
"The U.K. was the first country in
(19) Microsoft set up a subsidiary outside the U.S., and our experience in the
(20) has been significant in shaping our international growth," he said.
Microsoft’s British facilities include Research Cambridge, a laboratory established in 1997 in the university town that employs 80 scientists. In 2000, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a donation of $210 million to Cambridge University to create a scholarship program for graduate students from outside Britain.
