Knights In The News:

It is commonly believed that United States citizens cannot receive from a foreign government noble honors such as a Knighthood. To show that this belief has no basis in law or practice, this is a listing of United States citizens (whether famous or not) who have appeared in the news because they have received Knighthoods. The sources are newspapers, magazines, and journals.

The following people are Americans that have been knighted:

Admiral Leighton W Smith Jr.
Retired from the United States Navy, has been appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division) (KBE). The award, which will be made during an audience with The Queen at Buckingham Palace on 5 March, 1997 is in recognition of Admiral Leighton Smith's key role, whilst Commander-in Chief of NATO's Southern Command based in Naples.

Alan Greenspan
Knight Commander of the British Empire - since Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 2002.

Alfred J. Welsh
Attorney (Louisville, Kentucky). no date. Knight, Order of the Crown of the Kingdom of Belgium. No restriction on use of prenominal "Sir" or on postnominals. Sir Alfred has served as Honorary Consul of Belgium in Louisville since 1983. Source: The Magazine of Sigma Chi, Fall 1994, page 16.

Andre Previn
U.S. music composer and orchestral maestro, appointed Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Bill Gates
Received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

Bob Hope and Delores Hope
Actor/Comedian/Humanitarian. January 4, 1998. Knight, Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great. The Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great (Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni) was founded by Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846). The Order's original purpose was to honor loyal and meritorious gentlemen of the Papal States. The Order of St. Gregory the Great is open to Roman Catholics, non-Roman Catholic Christians, and even non-Christians. It now has three ranks (Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander, and Knight) and two divisions, civil and military. Source: AP news release. No restriction on the use of prenominal "Chev." or on postnominals. On June 11, 1998, Chev. Hope and his wife, Dame Hope, were Invested as Knight Commanders with Star of this Order. Source: AP news release.

Caspar Weinberger
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense, appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by H.M. Queen Elizabeth.

Charleton Heston
Actor. Monday, March 16, 1997. Commander, Order of Arts and Letters (France). The French Order of Arts and Letters is France's highest civilian honor for those in the performing arts. Source: AP news release. No restriction on the use of prenominal "Chev." or on postnominals. Chevalier Heston commented that while he had played knights in the movies, this was the first time he actually was made one.

Colin Powell
U.S. Military General... appointed in 1993 as Knights Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Honorary) by H.M. Queen Elizabeth.

Engelbert Humperdinck
Born Arnold George Dorsey, in Leicester, England.

George Bush, Sr.
The 41st U.S. President, appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath by H.M. Queen Elizabeth.

Jerry Lewis
Comedian, actor, director, producer, humanitarian, appointed as Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, 1966.

John Paul Getty II
U.S. billionaire businessman, appointed Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by H.M. Queen Elizabeth.

Lynn Sandstedt
University Professor at the University of Northern Colorado, appointed Knight of the Order of Alphonso the Wise by King Juan Carlos, for educational work in Madrid, October 1998.

Muhammed Ali
World heavyweight champion boxer. Thursday, January 15, 1998. Member of Morocco's Commander of the Arch. By King Hassan II. Ali was in Morocco for the holy month of Islam's Ramadan.

Norman Schwarzkopf
U.S. Military General... appointed in 1993 as Knights Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Honorary) by H.M. Queen Elizabeth.

Paul McCartney
March 11, 1997: "Investiture Ceremony" The investiture ceremony took place in London, Buckingham Palace. Paul was receiving his knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II.

Peter Falk
Television and motion picture actor. Chevalier of Arts and Letters, France's highest arts honor in the French Legion of Honor; on Thursday, February 29, 1996 in Paris. French film star Gerard Depardie, himself a Chevalier, bestowed the honor in a ceremony held by the French Ministry of Culture. Falk is one of many Americans who regularly receive Knighthood in various Orders of Chivalry.

Ricardo Montalban and Mrs. Montalban
Actor. January 4, 1998. Knight, Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great. The Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great (Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni) was founded by Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846). The Order's original purpose was to honor loyal and meritorious gentlemen of the Papal States. The Order of St. Gregory the Great is open to Roman Catholics, non-Roman Catholic Christians, and even non-Christians. It now has three ranks (Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander, and Knight) and two divisions, civil and military. Source: AP news release. No restriction on the use of prenominal "Chev." or on postnominals.

Ronald Reagan
The 40th U.S. President, appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath by H.M. Queen Elizabeth.

Roy Disney and Mrs. Disney
Disney Studios Executive and brother of Walt Disney. January 4, 1998. Knight, Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great. The Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great (Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni) was founded by Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1846). The Order's original purpose was to honor loyal and meritorious gentlemen of the Papal States. The Order of St. Gregory the Great is open to Roman Catholics, non-Roman Catholic Christians, and even non-Christians. It now has three ranks (Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander, and Knight) and two divisions, civil and military. Source: AP news release. No restriction on the use of prenominal "Chev." or on postnominals.

Rudy Giuliani

Steven Spielberg
"The award of an honorary knighthood recognizes Steven Spielberg's extraordinary contribution to the entertainment industry and the British film industry over the last 25 years," the British Embassy said Thursday.

Tom Foley
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. March 19, 1995. Member, Order of the British Empire. Foly also holds the French Legion of Honor and the German Order of Merit. Source: AP news release. The OBE was given by Sir Robin Renwick, the British Ambassador to the United States with these words: "I am ordered by Her Majesty the Queen to invest you with the Order of Knight of the British Empire." Without further ceremony, Sir Robin then placed the neck decoration upon Foley. According to the AP news release, Foley cannot use the chivalric prenominal, but can use the OBE postnominal.

Wellington Webb
Mayor of Denver, appointed May 1998 as Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.

Wesley Clark
U.S. General and NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe made Knight Cokmmander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire March 28, 2000.

Classes of Knights

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
   •  Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GBE)
   •  Knight Commander or Dame Commander (KBE)
   •  Commander (CBE)
   •  Officer (OBE)
   •  Member (MBE)

Knighted Sources

List of the Knights of the Garter (1348-present)

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