Brian May

2023 - 1 - 1

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Radio X"

Brian May knighted in King's New Year's Honours List (Radio X)

The Queen guitarist is to be given the honour for services to music and charity.

It's an ongoing thing, and I'm hoping the knighthood will help". May pledged to “do the things one would expect a knight to do” including “fight for justice” and for “people who don’t have any voice”. The Queen guitarist is to be given the honour for services to music and charity.

Queen guitarist Brian May, fashion designer Mary Quant top U.K. ... (Fortune)

This year's list, the first to be signed off by King Charles III, also included diplomats shaping the U.K.'s response to the war in Ukraine.

In modern times, nominations are submitted to the government’s Cabinet Office and vetted by a committee before being passed on to the prime minister and the monarch for approval. Mary Quant, the 92-year-old designer best known for popularizing the miniskirt during the 1960s, received the U.K.’s top honor for her services to fashion. monarchs have awarded honors as part of orders of chivalry since the Middle Ages. May, who is also an animal welfare campaigner, was appointed a knight bachelor for his services to music and charity. Alison Rose, the chief executive of banking group NatWest and the first woman to run one of the U.K.’s largest banks, was also awarded a damehood. The former Queen guitarist, who also holds a doctorate in astrophysics, said he regarded his new title as “a kind of commission to do the things one would expect a knight to do — to fight for justice, to fight for people who don’t have any voice.”

Queen's Brian May Knighted, Is Now Sir Brian Harold May (Pitchfork)

King Charles recognized him for services to music and charity work.

“I will regard the knighthood not so much as a reward, but more as a charge—a commission—for me to continue to fight for justice – to be a voice for those who have no voice. As one of the first to receive the honor under the recently crowned King Charles, as part of the 2023 edition of the King’s New Year Honours List, he is now Sir Brian Harold May. [Queen](https://pitchfork.com/artists/12927-queen/) co-founder and guitarist [Brian May](https://pitchfork.com/artists/24320-brian-may/) has been knighted.

Queen guitarist Brian May is now a knight (CNN)

Queen guitarist Brian May has received a knighthood in honor of his services to music and charity.

May previously received the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2005. Drummer Roger Taylor was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2020. In addition to performing with Queen since the 1970s, May is also an astrophysicist. “I’m very thrilled and very touched by the love that’s come from you and the support. [ in a video posted to Instagram on Friday](https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm0K8VkIs6y/?igshid=YTgzYjQ4ZTY%3D). The end-of-year list also includes fashion designer Mary Quant and Ghanaian-British artist John Akomfrah.

2022 New Year Honours List: Queen's Brian May Received ... (Deadline)

The list, which was released Friday, is the first under King Charles III after his mother Queen Elizabeth II's death in September after 70 years on the British ...

(Member of the Order of the British Empire). for services to the arts and philanthropy. Other M.B.E.s included three member of the England’s women’s national soccer team, which won the European Championships in 2022. Jordan Wylie, the British adventurer, author and one of the stars of the Channel 4 programs Hunted and Celebrity Hunted, was named an M.B.E. (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for services to broadcasting and the international television format industry; and Henry Timms, president and CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, who was named an O.B.E. Also among the honorees on this year’s list from the entertainment world were Patricia Kinane, president of entertainment programs at FremantleMedia North America, who received an O.B.E.

Queen's Brian May Receives Knighthood (Stereogum)

Brian May is now a knight. He's Sir Brian Harold May. As I understand it, May is now obligated to serve the United Kingdom during any potential future invasions ...

Previously, in 2005, May was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), so his knighthood is a kind of promotion. Brian May was one of a few music-business professionals named on the 2023 edition of the King’s New Year Honours List, a British annual tradition. [celebrated astrophysicist](https://www.stereogum.com/1915754/united-nations-committee-on-the-peaceful-uses-of-outer-space-recognizes-brian-mays-asteroid-day/news/) and o [ccasional anti-wokeness pundit](https://www.stereogum.com/2168708/brian-may-brit-awards-gender-neutral-categories-queen-freddie-mercury/news/), has now taken a new turn.

Watch Queen's Brian May celebrate his new knighthood: 'Thank you ... (EW.com)

Watch Queen guitarist Brian May celebrate his new knighthood by thanking his fans: 'Much love from Sir Bri.'

The outlet described him as a "musician, songwriter, and animal welfare advocate," recognizing May for his "services to music and charity." [being a literal astrophysicist](https://ew.com/article/2007/07/26/brian-may-astro/), May is indeed known as an animal rights activist. "I'm very thrilled and very touched by the love that's come from you, and the support. Sir Brian Harold May, CBE." "OK… Sir Bri," he wrote.