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VioletInADream t1_j2b790m wrote

Wow I totally thought that he was already knighted but good for him and actually with his hair he can really resemble some nobleman from the 17th century.

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fourleggedostrich t1_j2be6on wrote

For what? If it's services to music, then Roger Taylor is well within his rights to burn Buckingham Palace to the ground!

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Thorebane t1_j2beri6 wrote

Sir is a higher prefix title in English, so it would technically be Sir. May

When being fully formal, you use the highest title before your name.

I can imagine, however, if it was something to do with your career, e.g. if you were a doctor/professor as well as a sir, you'd put the career prospect title first.

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gotele t1_j2bjvbw wrote

His club is much more exclusive.

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themagictoast t1_j2bl4xj wrote

From the article:

The musician, astrophysicist and animal welfare advocate is knighted for services to music and charity, after more than 50 years in one of Britain's most popular rock bands.

Sir Brian was previously appointed a CBE in 2005, while Queen drummer Roger Taylor was made an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours.

On being recognised for his campaigning work, Sir Brian told BBC News: "This is a kind of licence, a kind of commission to carry on doing what I'm doing, and it gives me a bit more power to my elbow. So I'm very happy about that."

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j_accuse t1_j2bx3q3 wrote

He’s a really nice guy and held a door for me once.

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weaselmaster t1_j2c8uai wrote

I read this entire comment thread thinking we were talking about James May, and I couldn’t figure out why he might have already been knighted, or could be in the future.

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trevb75 t1_j2ccqs9 wrote

Ironic it’s the first year after the Queens passing and he’s in a band called Queen

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dancin-weasel t1_j2cjei9 wrote

He wrote Fat Bottom Girls. Should’ve been knighted just for that 😜

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Hypestyles t1_j2cqy4p wrote

Prince Rogers Nelson should have been given a knight status many years ago.

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hawsman2 t1_j2cr3yh wrote

Was he the one that vocally supported Russia recently?

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WintersTablet t1_j2cx93m wrote

I read Brian, but my brain said James. I was like "Huh?!"

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Pulsecode9 t1_j2cy3zr wrote

It actually replaces Dr entirely. Sir Brian, PhD.

> However, the title of 'Doctor' (Dr.) is not used in combination with 'Sir', with the knighthood taking precedence. Knighted doctors are addressed as knights, though they may still use any post-nominal letters associated with their degrees.

(source)

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anyatrans t1_j2d09zr wrote

Really deserved.

He now is the Queen of England.

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RiotSloth t1_j2d0gkl wrote

About time! Seems like one of those genuinely lovely celebs.

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markuslama t1_j2d0irz wrote

I'm not sure if this is correct in the UK, but around here Professor is a job description, reserved for those who teach at a university. Dr. "only" means you have a doctorate. I imagine it would be the same for General Sir Whatever.

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jscott18597 t1_j2d0saq wrote

I read this title thinking of Billy Mays. I was confused to say the least.

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WorldMusicLab t1_j2d14ui wrote

Now, Mike Oldfield please. Sir Richard Branson would've been nothing without Tubular Bells.

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Colossal_hands t1_j2d1m5w wrote

I would refuse to be knighted. Why should somebody that has actually achieved so much in their life care for the validation of a bunch of nepotist nonce protectors

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Pulsecode9 t1_j2d2e9k wrote

Sir Brian.

> However, the title of 'Doctor' (Dr.) is not used in combination with 'Sir', with the knighthood taking precedence. Knighted doctors are addressed as knights, though they may still use any post-nominal letters associated with their degrees.

(source)

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iLikeBigMacs420 t1_j2d2v2w wrote

He blocked my mate for saying Adam Lambert came across like a knob on Twitter lol

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Vitringar t1_j2d4dd3 wrote

About fucking time! I guess that Queen Elizabeth felt a bit threatened by the name of the band?

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tobomori t1_j2d8i9d wrote

I am Sir Brian, as bold as a lion!

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Dommlid t1_j2d8iq6 wrote

But still no Kate Bush….

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lillobby6 t1_j2d9ha0 wrote

> In the case of a military officer who is also a knight, the appropriate form of address puts the professional military rank first, then the correct manner of address for the individual, then his name

According to the wikipedia page. Professor has precendence over Sir, but Dr. does not and is thus overriden.

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lillobby6 t1_j2d9uy7 wrote

Sir is always followed by the forename or the full name, but not the surname.

With the correction to Dr. as others pointed out it should be Sir Brian, Sir Brian May, or Professor Sir Brian May. Additional the PhD suffix could be added.

Edit: he doesn’t currently have a professor position so that would likely be incorrect here. He was previously a university Chancellor so that may be more correct to use, though I am uncertain how the different terms would be used in this case.

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gregsting t1_j2db9z6 wrote

Fun fact(-ish) he met the queen and she said something like "Ho, I know you" "Really?" "Yes, you played guitar on my birthday" 😂

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StephenHunterUK OP t1_j2dbta1 wrote

Quite a few musicians do - Bowie turned down a CBE and a knighthood. Lennon returned his MBE, but legally the honour remained his until his death in 1980.

Some hold out for higher gongs, some find the concept a bit silly, others don't like being in the Order of the British Empire.

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StephenHunterUK OP t1_j2dcls0 wrote

You just make it honorary for a non-citizen. Like Angelina Jolie DCMG or Bill Gates KBE. They can't call themselves Dame or Sir, though.

In any event, the bigger problem with Prince is he's dead. Most honours - with the exception of gallantry ones like the George Cross - can't be awarded posthumously.

They also can't be revoked posthumously, being deemed to have died with the holder, which is why Jimmy Saville's knighthood couldn't be rescinded.

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Salty_Paroxysm t1_j2dfsmo wrote

Captain Sir Kevin Darling or Captain Darling

If you're an NCO, the first Sir is adequate. You wouldn't have to address them as 'Captain Sir Kevin Darling Sir', although they probably would just to take the piss.

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gwaydms t1_j2dhlar wrote

The title Sir should be used with the full name, or the first name alone. Not with the surname alone.

Reverend is used in a similar way, but if used with just the last name should be "The Reverend (Mr)(Mrs)(etc) Lastname".

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elpajaroquemamais t1_j2dnwkn wrote

Does anyone else ever have a knighthood, a phd, and a Grammy? Because Brian doesn’t either.

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N-Freak t1_j2drw0c wrote

I actually thought that he was, already

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sbcbrat t1_j2dzpzq wrote

Doesn't he know for sure?

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w0mba7 t1_j2e40av wrote

This is so cool. I’ve met him quite a few times. A relative of mine was an expert in the history of photography and antique photographs. Brian is really into that, specially stereophotography , so he is friends with a lot of people in that field, comes to their parties, loves to geek out about that stuff. He’s a totally normal friendly guy, not a big head rockstar at all.

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Christopher135MPS t1_j2e9d8p wrote

Your post reminds me a line from a tv show called “clone High”:

“Folks, For my next totally outrageous campaign stunt, I will ride this windsurfboard which is connected by a bungee cord to this monster truck, which my friend Gandhi will drive back and forth on this half-pipe. Just like the real Abe Lincoln would have done, had he the tools to do so.”

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Eroe777 t1_j2eka1y wrote

So is he now Sir Doctor Brian May, or Doctor Sir Brian May?

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khaddy t1_j2eni9d wrote

Really makes you wonder tho, if the geniuses thru history were born today, would they still go into the same vocation? For all we know, Newton would have been a math-illiterate rock star or influencer!

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meep6969 t1_j2eniqn wrote

Are the early seasons of top gear worth watching..? I just started the reboot of 2015 with Matt Leblanc hosting and it's pretty good, but I'm sure it's completely different then then 23 something seasons before it lol.

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atomic1fire t1_j2eomvi wrote

I assume because it's recognition of how important your work actually is.

I don't think Americans can accept these titles, but I assume it's something like getting a nobel prize. What you do might be more important then the award, but the prize is just a feather on the cap for how important that work may be.

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TheOriginalAlfonzo t1_j2eu110 wrote

Here was me thinking he'd do a Bowie and decline. Ah well - another one bites the dust.

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FluphyBunny t1_j2fahhe wrote

My initial response to this was “how is Brian May not already a Knight”.

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Learning2Learn2Live t1_j2flnhj wrote

At the uni I went to there was a Sir and he went by Sir surname followed by a bunch of letters for various things. He was a professor before being knighted. Although, he was a chancellor so I don’t think they actually teach anything.

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