Ringo is to become Sir Ringo Starr in the new year! (Okay, Sir Richard Starkey...) He’s to be knighted for services to music and charity. Ringo is said to be “made up”. Aww.
“It came as a bolt from the blue. Ringo was totally knocked sideways but is chuffed to bits.”
[A ‘family friend’, The Sun, 24th Dec 2017]
Sir Paul, 75, had told of his frustration for his pal in an interview. When it was suggested he could ask the Queen to knight Ringo, Macca replied: “The last time I went by she was out. Otherwise, I would have popped in and said ‘Look, love, Sir Richard Starkey’. Because I do think it’s about time.”
[The Sun, 24th Dec 2017]
A source added: “He’ll feel ten feet tall when he goes back [to the palace, to collect his knighthood].
"Sadly, two of the Beatles, John Lennon and George Harrison, are no longer here to be honoured in a similar way.**
“But giving Ringo a knighthood will go some way towards recognising the enormous contribution The Beatles made to popular music.
"He is a beacon of Beatlemania.”
[The Sun, 24th Dec 2017]
Pics are Ringo & Paul photographed by Rob Shanahan, The Beatles meeting Prince Philip in 1964 (Rex) and The Beatles collecting their MBEs from the palace in 1965.
** In my opinion, they had ample opportunity to give George a knighthood, but failed to do so. They offered him a CBE (I think) at the same time they gave Paul a knighthood, which George turned down as it was an insult to knight one and not the other(s), so mixed feelings about that, but I’m very happy for Ringo. It’s overdue. Arise, Sir Ringo!
