Posted on 10/12/2001 7:03:13 AM PDT by tom paine 2
Sir Rudolph Giuliani? It could happen — sort of.
The word from Buckingham Palace yesterday was that Queen Elizabeth wants to bestow the title on New York's shining knight, who has led the city — and the world — since the traumas of Sept. 11. But it would have to be an honorific one, since U.S. citizens cannot accept full knighthoods.
There's precedent: Other Americans so honored include Ronald Reagan and George Bush, British-born Bob Hope, Secretary of State Powell, Steven Spielberg and conductor Andre Previn. Each has received a medal proclaiming him an Honorary Knight of the British Empire.
Giuliani, however, would be made a Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
According to my source, the mayor need not fly to England. Sir Christopher Meyer, the British ambassador to the U.S., could stand in for the queen at the embassy in Washington.
Can't you just picture Rudy curtsying to someone else? But Elizabeth is anxious to make the presentation at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty would shake Hizzoner's hand and present him with the accolade. However, she would not touch the Sword of State to his shoulders, as she does with British subjects.
Sources told me that Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen are also in line to be honored by the U.K., but I hear the plan for them will be a little less elaborate.
The mayor's rep did not return calls.
Duke, Duke Duke,
Duke of York.
York, York, York,
Duke of Yooooork
Oh...now I'd pay money to see that.
I could not be happier about this knighthood, Giuliani does deserve it for his cleaning the streets of Manhattan which saved untold British lives from muggers and then being our leader during the worst days in New York history. It is a splendid thing for the Queen to do.
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