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Bill Gates to become a Knight
Bill Gates is set to become a Knight. Yes, it is true. The co-founder of Microsoft will be awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen of England tomorrow for his outstanding contribution to enterprise.
He will become a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an honor that dates back to 1917, although monarchs have been creating knights for hundreds of years.
Among the pomp and grandeur of the formal state rooms at the palace, Gates will kneel in front of the sovereign, who will gently tap him on the shoulder with a sword.
Citizens of the UK will be obliged to call him "Sir" from now on; however you Americans, Indians, Chinese, Africans and all the rest will not have to do that. Lucky you.
"(Gates) is one of the most important business leaders of his age. Microsoft technology has transformed business practices and his company has had a profound impact on the British economy." - UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
He will become a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an honor that dates back to 1917, although monarchs have been creating knights for hundreds of years.
Among the pomp and grandeur of the formal state rooms at the palace, Gates will kneel in front of the sovereign, who will gently tap him on the shoulder with a sword.
Citizens of the UK will be obliged to call him "Sir" from now on; however you Americans, Indians, Chinese, Africans and all the rest will not have to do that. Lucky you.
"(Gates) is one of the most important business leaders of his age. Microsoft technology has transformed business practices and his company has had a profound impact on the British economy." - UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
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User Comments (12)
Post a comment| Electrick Gypsy on March 1, 2005 3:45 PM | This has to be a joke . . like the English royal family are a joke. Notice I said 'English' . . . being a Scot living in exile I don't recognise them anyway.
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| nemesis_256 on March 1, 2005 9:32 PM | umm, didn't this happen like a year ago or so?
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| Phantasm66 on March 2, 2005 2:18 AM | Nope, it happened this week, apparently. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2005-03-01-sir-bill-usat_x.htm?csp=34
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| Electrick Gypsy on March 2, 2005 5:39 AM | [Quote]Citizens of the UK will be obliged to call him "Sir" from now on; however you Americans, Indians, Chinese, Africans and all the rest will not have to do that. Lucky you. [Unquote] Gates will join the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as a Knight Commander, but will not be granted the title "Sir," which is reserved exclusively for the Queen's subjects. News of the impending knighthood was first announced last year.
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| Mictlantecuhtli on March 2, 2005 5:43 AM | Heh, that Mr Straw's comment is quite ambiguous. "Microsoft technology has transformed business practices" Transformed into better or worse? More or less greedy? "his company has had a profound impact on the British economy." Profound, but good or bad? Typical politician talk. Bill Gates got MBE earlier (Member of the Order of the British Empire, its lowest rank). This KBE is three ranks higher. [Edited by Mictlantecuhtli on 2005-03-02 05:49:26]
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| tepster on March 2, 2005 7:52 AM | Wtf Im never gonna call him sir lol. Domination over the computer market and he gets a knighthood... he didn't excatly save lifes did he. He didn't risk his life to save 100 people or create a medicine to cure cancer, all he did was expanded his knowledge on the old MITS Altair and decided, hmm lets make a company out of it  !Stupid fool, but thats my personal opinion.
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| tellingd on March 2, 2005 9:37 AM | Love him or hate him, no-one can deny that he has achieved immense success in the business world. I don't see why he should be knocked for being successful - would any of us be different if we were where he is?
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| phantasm66 on March 2, 2005 10:45 AM | You should all watch "Pirates of Silicon Valley" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0168122/
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| phantasm66 on March 2, 2005 12:35 PM | oooooooooooohh! isn't that lovely! 
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| ---agissi--- on March 2, 2005 3:02 PM | All I have to say its good for him.
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| Phantasm66 on March 2, 2005 5:42 PM | Well, yes. When all is said and done, he has done some very good things for computing and for business.
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| andygibbs on March 3, 2005 3:03 PM | I know some people don't think Gates deserved the knighthood, but living in the UK i heard that he got it for his donations to charity, not his contribution to enterprise. If that's true, he deserves it - cos he's given a lot to charity
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