Bill Gates: Knights of the New Republic

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is to be presented with an honourary knighthood from the Queen in recognition of his outstanding contribution to enterprise, employment, education and the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. 48 year old Gates, the richest man in the world with a personal fortune of £28 billion, will be presented with the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire but will be unable to call himself "Sir Bill" because he is not a British citizen, although he can use the letters KBE after it. Once the investiture takes place, Gates will join a select group of honourary US knights including former presidents Bush and Reagan, Steven Spielburg, Colin Powell, Norman Schwarztkopf, Bob Hope and Rudy Giuliani.

The Foreign Office announced early on Monday that Gates — the software superstar who puts the Bill into billionare — will become a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. This is one of the highest honours that Britain can bestow upon those born outside the UK.

ZDNet UK
Here today, gong tomorrow for ‘Sir’ Bill Gates