Ahmm.. Sir BILL

[pchan]

Gates receives knighthood

http://news.com.com/2009-1016_3-5595899.html?type=pt&part=inv&tag=feed&subj=news

[BJ_M]

honorary knighthood

[AlecWest]

honorary knighthood

True, it's not full knighthood ... only a "demo version."

[pchan]

The "demo version" will expire if he is not charitable to the consumers....

[Forum Troll]

Only citizens of the Kingdom of Great Britain recieve the title Sir. Gates is American.

[fmctm1sw]

Was George Harrison knighted?

[RottenFoxBreath]

i wonder if hell be required to activate it,via phone or by entering a 25 digit product code,contained on the back of the medal,or on the booklet that accompanies it.

[fmctm1sw]

i wonder if hell be required to activate it,via phone or by entering a 25 digit product code,contained on the back of the medal,or on the booklet that accompanies it.

Oh that's good...

[AlecWest]

Only citizens of the Kingdom of Great Britain recieve the title Sir. Gates is American.

Are you sure about that? I thought it depended on the "type" of knighthood bestowed. To be a Knight Of The Realm, I think citizenship is a requirement ... but that might not be true for those dubbed Knight Commander Of The Victorian Order. I recall in the film Patriot Games that Harrison Ford was knighted KCVO and it seemed pretty official to me. Also, Ronald Reagan was personally knighted by the Queen as Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Of course, I could be talking out of my ass, too. But, it would be nice to know if Americans can or cannot be "officially" knighted. Anybody know the scoop on that?

[Duchess]

According to the news people in the UK if he was a Brit he would be SIR Bill Gates. What he received was the same knighthood as all the other Sir whatevers.

[Gillies]

According to the news people in the UK if he was a Brit he would be SIR Bill Gates. What he received was the same knighthood as all the other Sir whatevers.

he'd be a Sir if he lived in a commonwealth country too like Australia or Canada.

[Steve Stepoway]

I recall in the film Patriot Games that Harrison Ford was knighted KCVO and it seemed pretty official to me. Also, Ronald Reagan was personally knighted by the Queen as Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.

Of course, I could be talking out of my ass, too. But, it would be nice to know if Americans can or cannot be "officially" knighted. Anybody know the scoop on that?

Article I Section 9 of the US Constitution bars US citizens who hold "any Office of Profit or Trust under (the United States)" from accepting any "Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State." Sections 9 and 10 bar the federal and state governments from granting any titles of nobility. My understanding is that titles granted to US citizens have to be considered technically "honorary" because of Section 9. It's clear as it would apply to government officials. Private citizens? I guess it's a little vague. BTW If you go back and read Patriot Games there's some discussion of this issue before Ryan is knighted.

[BJ_M]

Britons and citizens of the Commonwealth are entitled to add the title "Sir" in front of their names, but that honor does not extend to other nationalities.

[otpw1]

The lengths that some people will go to get tech support.........

[sanjayk]

i wonder if hell be required to activate it,via phone or by entering a 25 digit product code,contained on the back of the medal,or on the booklet that accompanies it.

That is indeed a good one. Suits Sir Bill !