77-year-old and former Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, will be knighted in a ceremony to be held in Buckingham Palace. Starr, also known by his birth name Richard Starkey will be awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II together with three other personalities.

Sir Richard Starkey?

USA Today reported that Ringo Starr will be knighted in the Buckingham Palace together with three other recipients. They are Barry Gibb, the surviving member of the Bee Gees, the author Michael Morpurgo, and the ballet dancer Darcey Burcell. Burcell will be named a dame in the ceremony.

Sir Paul McCartney wrote a Twitter post, saying, “Sir Richard Starkey has a nice ring to it.”

Ringo Starr has released his brief official statement about the honor: "It's great! It's an honor and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love. Ringo."

Lennon and Harrison won’t be knighted?

While the two living former Beatle are enjoying their knight status, John Lennon and George Harrison will not become Knights. The existing rules about knighthood allow only living recipients to become a knight. John Lennon died in 1980 while George Harrison died in 2001. Lennon was shot by in the head by Mark David Chapman.

Twice a year, Britain’s Cabinet Office publishes a shortlist of people receiving honors of merit for their bravery or service.

The first is before New Year’s Eve and the other one is in June when the Queen’s birthday is publicly observed. Ringo Star is included on the list, two decades after Sir Paul McCartney received his knighthood. Even though they won't become knights like McCartney and Starr, they have been given MBE or Member of the Order of the British Empire status.

Both Harrison and Lennon were more than qualified to receive the knighthood together with their bandmates during their lifetimes, but it wasn't only until 1995 that the crown started knighting pop stars. Among those stars who were knighted years after John Lennon's death were Cliff Richards and Bob Geldof. Geldof was given an honorary knighthood, and it was in recognition of his charity work, not his musical achievements.

However, recent research about George Harrison was discovered that he rejected an OBE or Officer of the Order of the British Empire honor because he considers it lower than McCartney's knighthood. But even after his death, celebrities and other personalities are urging the crown to change the rules so that George Harrison can receive a posthumous knighthood.
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