LONDON (CelebrityAccess) Ringo Starr is living his 77th year on earth as a Knight of the Realm.
Starr, using his real name, Richard Starkey, was knighted by Prince William March 20. The other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney, was knighted in 1997.
The knighting comes more than 50 years after the Beatles received MBE awards at Buckingham Palace. The Member of the Order of the British Empire is one of the lower honors, following knighthood/damehood, CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
“I had dinner with [McCartney] last week and we were both actually laughing about where we came from, and we’ve ended up in the palace and it’s now Sir Paul and Sir Richard,” Starr said.
That’s not all: Bee Gees co-founder Barry Gibb was also knighted.
Gibb said he was “deeply honored, humbled, and very proud” to be recognized. “This is a moment in life to be treasured and never forgotten. I want to acknowledge how responsible my brothers are for this honor. It is as much theirs as it is mine,” The 71-year-old told the Press Association.
Marc Almond from Soft Cell (“Tainted Love) received an OBE for his contributions to arts and culture. Grime music artist Wiley was recognized with an MBE.
Darcey Bussell, former principal dancer with the Royal Ballet and current judge on “Strictly Come Dancing,” was awarded a damehood for her services to dance.
More than 1,100 people were honored this year, including 551 women.
