As the reigning monarch of England, Queen Elizabeth has a held a lot of power for the past 70 years — much of which extends in ways that would sound so foreign to Americans. One of those powers gives her the ability to grant knighthoods and damehoods, and while the process behind it can seem a little confusing, over the years she's given a lot of celebrities the honor.
According to the royal family's official website, the Queen gives out honors twice a year "in public recognition of their merit, service, or bravery." The recipients don't have to be British to receive the honor, though they can only go by their new title if they're UK citizens. Prince Charles and Prince William have been known to present the honors on behalf of the Queen as well.
Here are some of the biggest celebrities who have been named knights or dames. Some of these names might surprise you!
Angelina Jolie
In 2014, Angelina Jolie was granted an honorary damehood during a private visit to Buckingham Palace. She was recognized for her work with the UN to help end sexual violence worldwide, and the Queen presented her with the Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.
Judi Dench
Judi Dench has been a dame since 1988, but that wouldn't be the last time she received an honor from the Queen. In 2005, she was named a Companion of Honor for the contributions she's made to film and the arts — and of course, this was years after her first honor in 1970. At this point, she might just be the Queen's favorite!
Paul McCartney
As a member of The Beatles and one of the most successful musicians of all time, it's no surprise that Sir Paul McCartney earned a title of his own. He was knighted in 1997 for his contributions to music. "Proud to be British, wonderful day, and it's a long way from a little terrace (street) in Liverpool," he told reporters that day, according to History.com.
Bill Gates
In 2005, Bill Gates received an honorary knighthood in 2005 for (unsurprisingly) his work with Microsoft — the company he founded. "The UK was the first country in which Microsoft set up a subsidiary outside the US, and our experience in the UK has been significant in shaping our international growth," he said in a statement at the time, via NBC News.
Julie Andrews
In 2000, Julie Andrews was made a dame in honor of her contributions to performing arts. Later, during an appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan, Julie talked about what happened when she and the Queen came face to face.
"She said something quite lovely like, 'I've been waiting a long time to see you here,' or something like that," Julie said.
Deborah James
At the end of June 2022, BBC host Deborah James died from bowel cancer, but not before Prince William was able to honor her with a damehood of her own.
"I am utterly honored that he joined us for afternoon tea and champagne, where he not only spent a generous amount of time talking to my whole family but also honored me with my damehood," Deborah shared on Instagram in May 2022.
Elton John
Since he's so often referred to as Sir Elton John, he's usually one of the first people think of when they think about celebrities who have been knighted. After he received the honor in 1998, years later in 2021, Prince Charles made him a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour.
Emma Thompson
When Emma Thompson received her damehood in 2018, she wore a suit with sneakers for the occasion, making headlines for just her outfit alone. According to the BBC, Emma said that she was tickled by receiving the honor from Prince William, since she'd known him since he was a little kid.
Kate Winslet
In 2012, Queen Elizabeth herself honored Kate Winslet with the CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for "services rendered to drama," as E! News reported at the time.
"The sense of gravity is enormous, and you very much feel you are being acknowledged by the whole country in a way," Kate told the press.
Michael Caine
In 2000, Michael Caine was knighted, but there's a bit of a twist. Since the name we know the Children of Men star by is his stage name, he was actually knighted under his legal name, Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, though The Irish Times did say that royal officials gave him permission to go by Sir Michael.
Maggie Smith
They don't call her Dame Maggie Smith for nothing! In 2014, Maggie was awarded her damehood at the same time that Angelina Jolie received her honors. That day, the Downton Abbey star became a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor, and Queen Elizabeth was the one to present it to her.
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1991, and he later told Attitude that he waited to accept it until he had come out as gay.
"I will always be glad that I didn't accept the knighthood until I'd come out of the closet. If you're lying about that central part of your nature, can you be trusted?" he said, via the Daily Mail. "I think that's why when people come out the reception is usually positive. People like honesty."
Helen Mirren
In 2003, Helen Mirren, who has played the role of Queen Elizabeth herself, was given her damehood — something she told Metro that she did because she knew it would make her late parents proud.
"Becoming a dame was a whole different thing. It was to do with my family, with my mum and dad, and the world I grew up in. And they were both dead by the time, but I accepted it for my parents," she said.
Kenneth Branagh
In November 2012, it was Wallander star Kenneth Branagh's turn to be knighted. According to the BBC, he said at the time, "I'm so very pleased this has happened in the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the [London] Olympics, and the Paralympics. It's been a hell of a year for the UK, and I feel very honored to be a tiny part of this part of it."
Bono
In 2007, U2 rocker Bono received his honorary knighthood in Dublin for his contributions to music and his humanitarian work. According to Reuters, he said in a statement on his band's website, "I would like to thank Her Majesty's ambassador for pinning this award on me in my hometown, and the band for not bursting my balloon."
