Report: George Harrison to be knighted by queen in 2002 Update (2/5/02) George will not be knighted posthumously, reports the Liverpool Echo. In a letter from William Chapman, the secretary of appointments at 10 Downing Street, to West Derby MP Bob Wareing, Chapman wrote, "The Prime Minister may not recommend posthumous awards to the Order of the British Empire. I can assure you that this rule has not changed and that there is no truth in newspaper reports that a knighthood is to be bestowed on the late George Harrison." A spokesperson for the Prime Minster's office concurred, saying, "The rules state that posthumous honours are only awarded for acts of valour. There are absolutely no plans to change that and we have never indicated that there are." (Thanks to raph.)

(12/31/01)
George Harrison will be reportedly knighted posthumously in June by Queen Elizabeth, the first such posthumous honor, reports News of the World and Agence France Press. The report says said his death had come too late for him to be added to the queen's New Year honors list and that he would be added to her birthday honours list in June. (Thanks to Kelly Kuwabara and Wendy Starr.)

  • ABC News (Australia): Harrison to be posthumously knighted
    This news item copyright Abbeyrd's Beatles Page