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Bill Gates to be made a knight?
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Posted by: Raj

Even I'm surprised.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai.../ixnewstop.html

Queen to give knighthood to Bill Gates - but you can blame it on Gordon Brown
By Robert Peston, City Editor
(Filed: 25/01/2004)

Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder and the world's wealthiest man, is to receive an honorary knighthood for "services to global enterprise".

The recommendation that he receive the honour was made by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown. Buckingham Palace is expected to announce it tomorrow, when Mr Gates will speak at a conference on "Advancing Enterprise" organised by Mr Brown.

The controversial software company creator - whose commercial success has led to hatred of him among his competitors - is worth an estimated $40 billion (Ł22 billion). Microsoft is described as the "Evil Empire" by those who resent its grip on the computer industry.

Other Americans to have received the KBE include George Bush, the former president, Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, Steven Spielberg, the film director, and Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank.

Mr Greenspan is another speaker at tomorrow's conference. The event has prompted resentment in the Prime Minister's close circle, who knew nothing about it until a fortnight ago.

They are annoyed that the conference - which gathers together luminaries from the business and political worlds including Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the European Central Bank, Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive of Tesco, and Lord Browne, chief executive of BP - is taking place in Tony Blair's most difficult week since he became Prime Minister in 1997.

"On the eve of Hutton and the university fees vote, this is Brown saying, 'Look at all my powerful friends'," said a Downing Street adviser.

Mr Gates has been a notable donor to charities and good causes. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was created in 2000 to improve "equity in global health and learning". He has donated nearly $26 billion to the foundation.

The foundation set up a Ł139 million scholarship scheme three years ago to attract the brightest students to Cambridge University. It has also invested millions of dollars in research for an Aids vaccine.

Posted by: Spire

When I heard about this, I was surprised that the reason for the honorary knighthood was for "services to global enterprise" rather than for his philanthropy.

Posted by: Fustanella

Uh huh. What's the going rate for an OBE these days? :rolleyes:

Posted by: doom1701

Cool. He's more deserving than some actor.

Posted by: Ingersoll

Ya' know, he does kinda resemble Brave Sir Robin from Monty Python and the Holy Grail... Especially in the armor wetting scene :D

Posted by: IJustLikeTivo

I hate his company but he does much more with his money than most. I certainly find him deserving on that count alone. Most countries have not spent 28 billion on others. Some will say he bought this but I imagine it was not his idea and it is not really his style. He has always been much happier being the techies and letting guys like Ballmer stand out front and take the heat.

Posted by: retrodog

This knighthood thing is a joke. I'd sword fight any of these wimps. Well except for pres. Bush of course. ;)

Posted by: johnmoorejohn

Anyone who thinks someone would pay $26,000,000,000 to get a sword tapped on their shoulder is a bit crazy.

Posted by: nataylor

I heard a story the other day that something like 3000 knighthoods are handed out per year now. Some people are turning them down because of the perceived lack of meaning behind them.

Posted by: Brown57

quote:
Originally posted by nataylor
I heard a story the other day that something like 3000 knighthoods are handed out per year now. Some people are turning them down because of the perceived lack of meaning behind them.

Possibly true of "real" knighthoods, but the honorary variety are given to a much more exclusive group. Other Americans honoured in recent years have included Steven Spielberg, Alan Greenspan, Rudi Giuliani, Norman Schwartzkopf, Wesley Clark, Colin Powell and former Presidents Bush and Reagan.

Posted by: Dan203

quote:
Originally posted by Brown57
Possibly true of "real" knighthoods, but the honorary variety are given to a much more exclusive group. Other Americans honoured in recent years have included Steven Spielberg, Alan Greenspan, Rudi Giuliani, Norman Schwartzkopf, Wesley Clark, Colin Powell and former Presidents Bush and Reagan.

How does Spielberg fit into that group? :confused:

Dan

Posted by: Brown57

quote:
Originally posted by Dan203
How does Spielberg fit into that group? :confused:

Dan

Does he have to? Knighthoods aren't just given to politicians. Gates isn't a politician. Spielberg got his for services to the British movie industry after making a dozen pictures here. Or did you mean that Spielberg isn't of the same calibre as the others?

Posted by: MarkofT

Any chance of startling the Queen so she accidently beheads Gates?

Posted by: nataylor

OK, here are the five grades of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (no, not inspired by Bill and Ted):

- Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)
- Knight/Dame Commander of Order of the British Empire (KBE/DBE)
- Commander of Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

And the limits on how many of those are handed out per year:

The Order is limited to 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 845 Knights and Dames Commanders, and 8960 Commanders. Also, no more than 858 Officers and 1464 Members may be appointed per year.

Lately, the Queen has been maxing these out. There is no distinction between a "regular" knighthood and "honorary" knighthood. It is perfectly acceptable for non-commonwealth citizens to be knighted, though they are unable to use the title "Sir" or "Dame" unless they become citizens of the British Empire.

There are also other Orders: Most Noble Order of the Garter, usually only 1 is given out per year, if that (limited to 24 per year); Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, available only to the Scottish and I can't even find the last time one was awarded (limited to 16 per year); Most Honourable Order of the Bath, usually awarded to military and civil servants, (limited to 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 295 Knights and Dames Commanders, and 1455 Companions); Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, usually given to members of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Colonial services (limited to 125 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 375 Knights and Dames Commanders, and 1750 Companions); Royal Victorian Order, usually awarded to the Sovereign's personal servants (no limit).

The only knightly honors are The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the two top grades (Knight or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame Commander) of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, The Royal Victorian Order and The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

So, in short, there's no shortage of knighthoods being handed out.

Posted by: nataylor

quote:
Originally posted by Dan203
How does Spielberg fit into that group? :confused:

He's right up there with Bob Hope and Pele!

"Pele is the king of the soccer field. To be the king of your kitchen, use Crestfield Wax Paper."

Posted by: Brown57

quote:
Originally posted by MarkofT
Any chance of startling the Queen so she accidently beheads Gates?

Sorry, no swords involved in the case of honorary knighthoods:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page489.asp

Foreign citizens occasionally receive honorary knighthoods; they are not dubbed, and they do not use the style 'Sir'. Such knighthoods are conferred by The Queen, on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on those who have made an important contribution to relations between their country and Britain. Foreign citizens with knighthoods include the former US Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, Chancellor Kohl, President Mitterrand and Mayor Giuliani of New York.