Latest news with #knighthood
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Sadiq Khan: King apologised for taking so long to knight me
The King apologised to Sadiq Khan for 'taking so long' to knight him, Labour's Mayor of London has claimed. Sir Sadiq was given the honour by the monarch at Windsor Castle on Tuesday after being nominated by the Prime Minister. The knighthood went ahead despite more than 220,000 people signing a petition against the award in protest over soaring crime rates since he became Mayor in 2016. Speaking after the ceremony, Sir Sadiq said he and the King also discussed 'who's a bigger workaholic'. 'I have got the pleasure of working closely with the King,' he said. 'We were just comparing who's a bigger workaholic. 'He was very chuffed that he managed to personally give me this honour and he actually apologised for it taking so long – which is not a problem at all.' Sir Sadiq's knighthood was announced in January as part of the New Year's Honours. 'My mum's here, and she's been emotional since it was announced on January 1, and today's just a great day for the family,' he said. 'Obviously, from my background, being the son of immigrants, my parents coming here from Pakistan, it's a big deal for us.' Sir Sadiq, who is the first Mayor of London to be knighted, added later in a statement on social media that his knighthood proved one could 'achieve anything' with 'a helping hand'. 'The London promise: if you work hard, and get a helping hand, you can achieve anything,' he said. '[I am] immensely proud to receive a knighthood from His Majesty The King. 'Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never imagined I'd one day receive this great honour while serving as Mayor. 'It's a truly humbling moment for myself and my family, and one I hope inspires others to believe in the opportunities our great capital offers. 'I'll forever be honoured to serve the city I love – and will continue to do all I can to build a fairer, safer, greener London for everyone.' Since Sir Sadiq succeeded Boris Johnson in 2016, knife crime has increased by more than 50 per cent, and violent crime has soared despite a 71 per cent increase in the portion of council tax that Londoners pay to City Hall. Last year, families of young people killed in the capital said the Mayor had 'completely lost control' of the streets. He has also waged war on London's drivers with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez). The petition against his knighthood accused him of having 'devastated the city we love so much', citing violent crime, rising rent costs and increased public transport prices. 'A knighthood is an honour reserved for citizens who've contributed significantly to their communities or professions,' it reads. 'It's a recognition of service that deserves the utmost respect, and as such, should not be bestowed on Sadiq Khan, who has failed to uphold his duty to our city and its inhabitants.' The petition was created by Matthew Goodwin-Freeman, a Conservative councillor on Harrow Borough Council. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said in December that Sir Sadiq's knighthood would see 'failure... being rewarded'. The knighthood came days after Londoners were forced to clean up graffiti on the Underground themselves which had not been removed by Transport for London (TfL), of which Sir Sadiq is chairman. The group, founded by Joe Reeve, a 28-year-old Londoner, said they were 'doing what Sadiq Khan can't' by cleaning up Bakerloo Line carriages. It followed Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, confronting fare dodgers on the tube in a video which has been viewed millions of times on X.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is KNIGHTED by King Charles – despite furious critics slamming ‘reward for failure'
CRITICS have slammed the decision to award Sadiq Khan a knighthood as a "reward for failure". The controversial London Mayor, 54, sparked fury after he was knighted by King Charles during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace earlier today. 4 4 Sir Sadiq, who has been Mayor of the capital since 2016, received the honour for political and public service. Posting on social media after the ceremony, the former Labour MP for Tooting said: "The London promise. If you work hard, and get a helping hand, you can achieve anything. "Immensely proud to receive a knighthood from His Majesty The King today. "Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never could have imagined that I'd one day receive this great honour while serving as the Mayor of London. "It's a truly humbling moment for myself and my family, and one that I hope inspires others to believe in the incredible opportunities that our great capital offers. 'I'll forever be honoured to serve the city that I love - and will continue to do all I can to build a fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous London for everyone." But Tories have hit back against the decision, claiming that the former Labour MP for Tooting has not done enough to tackle violent crime in London. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp fumed that Londoners would be "furious his track record of failure is being rewarded". During his time in office, the hated London Mayor has faced strong criticism over soaring knife crime, the housing crisis and his hugely unpopular Ulez scheme. Neil Garratt, leader of the London Assembly Tories added: 'Many are accusing the Government of rewarding Sadiq for failure — although with so many failures under his belt, it might be an accumulator award. 'Or it might be (Sir Keir) Starmer rewarding the Mayor for no longer demanding things for London, after months of snubbing him into submission.' Former Tory MP Anna Firth also joked that the people of London deserved the honour instead for "putting up with Sadiq Khan". 4
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Sadiq Khan knighted in Buckingham Palace ceremony
Sadiq Khan, the first London mayor to win a third term, has been knighted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace for political and public service. Sir Sadiq mentioned he and the King joked about who is 'a bigger workaholic' during the ceremony, which his family, including his mother, attended. The 54-year-old said he was most proud of his work to ensure free school meals for primary school children, as well as 'cleaning the air and investing in affordable housing'. Sir Loyd Grossman, known for his cooking sauces, was also knighted for services to heritage, particularly for his work with The Royal Parks, which he says are vital to Londoners. Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, was also honoured at Buckingham Palace for political and public service.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Sir Sadiq Khan and King banter over being workaholics during ceremony
Sir Sadiq Khan has said that he and the King discussed which of them is "a bigger workaholic" as he received a knighthood for political and public service. The politician, who is the first London mayor to win a third term, was knighted by Charles in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Speaking to the PA news agency, the 54-year-old said: "I have got the pleasure of working closely with the King. 'We were just comparing who's a bigger workaholic. He was very chuffed that he managed to personally give me this honour and he actually apologised for it taking so long – which is not a problem at all." Sir Sadiq, a second-generation immigrant, said he was delighted to receive a knighthood with his family in attendance. He remarked: 'My mum's here, and she's been emotional since it was announced on January 1, and today's just a great day for the family. 'Obviously, from my background, being the son of immigrants, my parents coming here from Pakistan, it's a big deal for us.' Asked what he is proudest of in his time as the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq said free school meals for primary school children, 'cleaning the air and investing in affordable housing'. 'What I'm really proud of is the chance to work with Londoners, like His Majesty.' Sir Loyd Grossman, who was knighted at the same ceremony, said London is 'the greatest city in the world '. The 74-year-old broadcaster and author, known widely for his range of cooking sauces, was awarded a knighthood for services to heritage, having led the transition of The Royal Parks, as chairman, from a government agency through to its establishment as an independent charity. Born in Massachusetts in the US, Sir Loyd came to England in his mid-20s. 'I've always felt that our heritage is so important to us, because not only is it beautiful, it's also inspiring,' Sir Loyd said. 'It helps us realise what it's like to be citizens together. 'It's one of the things that we do better in this country than anywhere in the world. 'People all over the world, when you ask them about London: what is it that's so great about London – which is the greatest city in the world – almost always they say your parks.' He said The Royal Parks were a lifeline for Londoners in lockdown, but that he 'couldn't possibly say' which is his favourite. 'The first one I ever went to, when I came here as a student, was Kensington Gardens, so I have a particularly strong affinity for Kensington Gardens but I just love all of them.' Dame Emily Thornberry, who has been Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005, was formally made a dame at Buckingham Palace. The chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, 64, said she does not usually get nervous but was 'fizzy with nerves' after receiving the honour. Dame Emily, who was honoured for political and public service, wore brooches belonging to her mother and grandmother in her hat at the ceremony. 'My grandmother used to work for Lloyds Bank and she wasn't allowed to work after she got married. If she knew that I'd become a dame, she wouldn't believe it,' the former shadow foreign secretary said. 'Neither would my mum.'
Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Black sports trailblazer Billy Boston, 90, becomes rugby league's first knight
Billy Boston, who blazed a trail for Black sportspeople in Britain during the 1950s and '60s, became the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The 90-year-old Boston was given his knighthood at an investiture ahead of the official announcement of King Charles' birthday honors this week. It was brought forward amid concerns for Boston's health, Britain's Press Association reported. Born in the Welsh capital Cardiff, Boston is one of the greatest players in the history of rugby league, the 13-man code that split 130 years ago from the more widely played 15-a-side rugby union. He played 488 times for Wigan from 1953-68 and finished his career with a British-record haul of 571 tries. He also became the first Black player to represent Britain on the Lions tour Down Under in 1954, scoring 36 tries in 18 appearances in Australia and New Zealand, and featured in a total of 31 international test matches. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Boston as a 'true trailblazer who's contributed hugely to rugby league.' 'Boston is a legend of the game who overcame prejudice to represent Great Britain and opened the door to a more diverse game,' added Starmer, who wrote personally to Boston to congratulate him. 'He's left a truly enduring legacy and the first knighthood in rugby league could not go to a more deserving player.' Boston's honor came after a sustained campaign by local councillors and lawmakers as well as leading figures in rugby league, who have frequently pointed out the relative lack of recognition for the code — played largely in the north of England — compared to rugby union, which has seen 20 knights anointed. 'It is a historic wrong,' Starmer said, 'that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honor.' Wigan owner Mike Danson said he was 'thrilled' by Boston's award, describing it as 'a richly deserved honor which means this most humble of men rightly receives, at last, fitting recognition for his extraordinary efforts.' Boston, whose father was from west African country Sierra Leone, has been living with dementia. ___ AP sports:
