Knighthood and Lordship?

Question

What's the criteria to become a Sir and a Lord in the UK? To be knighted I know you have to have a distinguished service towards the crown. But do you have to be a British citizen to become a Sir? And if so can immigrants be knighted?

Lordship I understand is a much more distinguished rank is aristocracy. How is it attainable? Can immigrants receive the honour?

Answer 1

you can buy property that brings a lordship with it,

Answer 2

Depends if you can bankroll the labour party dude!!!!!!

Answer 3

Honors are given to actors,charity workers,doctors,business people, politicians,any one who has served with distinction.And non-citizens,like Bill Gates,have been honored. Americans do not use the titles Sir or Dame,though.

From http://www.honours.gov.uk.

" Knight/Dame

Awarded for a pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity, through achievement or service to the community, usually, but not exclusively at national level, or in a capacity which will be recognised by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally, and which demonstrates sustained commitment.

CBE

Awarded for a prominent national role of a lesser degree, or a conspicuous leading role in regional affairs, through achievement or service to the community, or making a highly distinguished, innovative contribution in his or her area of activity.

OBE

Awarded for a distinguished regional or country-wide role in any field, through achievement or service to the community, including notable practitioners known nationally.

MBE

Awarded for achievement or service in and to the community of a responsible kind which is outstanding in its field; or very local 'hands-on' service which stands out as an example to others. In both cases awards illuminate areas of dedicated service which merit public recognition. "

And from http://www.royal.gov/uk

"Anybody in the UK can make a recommendation for a British national to receive an honour.

The aim is to ensure that the large numbers of people not in the public eye who give valuable service are recognised.

They could be charity volunteers, members of the emergency services or Armed Forces, industrial pioneers or specialists in various professions.

While The Queen is 'fountain of honour' in the United Kingdom, honours are actually awarded on the advice of the Cabinet Office.

For this reason, honours nominations are handled not by Buckingham Palace but by the Ceremonial Secretariat, part of the Cabinet Office."

Knighthoods should not be confused with the peerage,that is,being a member of the titled aristocracy. Peers are Dukes,Marquesses,Earls,Viscounts,and Barons. Many of these titles are herditary and have been held by the families for centuries.These type honors are very hard to come by as The Queen and Parliament are both involved. To find out more about The House of Lords see http://www.lordsappointments.gov.uk

Answer 4

You can't buy a Lordship (at least in Britain, although I believe the rules are different in Germany), unless you count all those online 'titles' for sale, which are of course not proper titles, but merely means to satisfy some snobs.

In Britain, aristocracy titles are inherited. The inheritance rules are pretty simple: the eldest son inherits. In case of a direct male heir, closest male relative inherits it. Females can't inherit titles unless otherwise stipulated by Royal Acts.

For example, if Lord X has 8 children, among them 3 daughters and 5 sons, the eldest son inherits it all.

If Lord X has 8 children, and all 8 are daughters, his daughters can inherit his fortune, however his title, along with some property, 'tied' with the title (like Family House), is inherited by his closest male relative.

Immigrants can become Lords - for example Lord Ahmed, currently resides in the House of Commons.

People are knighted or made Dames of the British Empire for distinguished services to their country. Very few are made Knights & Dames immediately, usually it's a pretty long proccess.

Foreginers can become Knightes and Dames, however usually the list consists of British and Commonwealth people.

Answer 5

There are rare occasions when a non-Brit is knighted. Bob Geldof, an Irishman, received an honorary knighthood (Knight of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986 .  He is entitled to use the post-nominal letters "KBE", but as he is not a citizen of a Commonwealth realm, he is precluded from using the title "Sir".

Certainly a number of immigrants have been knighted and enobled --Lord Ahmed, for example, Britain's first Muslim peer.

People's names are put forward to 10 Downing Street to be considered for the various awards made on the occasion of the Queen's official birthday and the end of the calendar year.  They are supposed to be people who have made an outstanding contribution in some area, but the concept can be somewhat fluid.

One known advantage of having a title is that people tend to respond positively when it comes to getting reservations in crowded restaurants.

Answer 6

In the United Kingdom, the reigning sovereign creates inherited peerages by either writs of summons or letters patent.  Contemporary hereditary peerages cannot be created except of the advice of the Prime Minister.  

Peerages descend through "heirs of the body".  In all cases, only legitimate children succeed, although Scottish titles may become legitimate upon the marriage of the parents.  Titles pass on the death of the previous holder.  They become extinct if all possible heirs have died, are considered dormant if no one claims them, or go into abeyance if more than one person can equally inherit them.  All English titles are inherited by the oldest son of the previous holder or else the nearest male descendant; in Scotland, however, the oldest daughter can inherit a title if no male claimant exists.

Life peerages, always of baronial rank, may be created under the Life Peerage Act of 1958.  To qualify for such a peerage, candidates must be 21, not convicted of treason, a citizen of the United Kingdom or Commonwealth (either naturalized or native born), and a resident of the UK for tax purposes.  Usually life peers achieve fame--or at least prominence--before being ennobled, although critics claim that Tony Blair has created too many life peers.  Since life peerages are often awarded for achievement, expect J. K. Rowling to someday be created Baroness Rowling, of Hogwarts, perhaps, although she may just receive the right to call herself Dame Rowling.  Baronets and knighthoods are not peerage ranks, but honorific titles awarded in recognition of service to society.

Wives of knights and baronets are entitled to place Lady before their husband's surname.  Thus, before Heather Mills' divorce, she had the right to be called Lady McCartney. Of course, if a woman marries either a hereditary or life peer, by custom, she also uses a courtesy title, "Lady X".  

Does a title bring social or political advantages?  It probably helps land a better table in a restaurant, but what maitre'd wouldn't give Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber a really well-placed table?  No geniune British title can be bought, including those fake titles bestowed on t.v. reality shows like "American Princess".

Answer 7

You do not have to be a citizen of the UK to be knighted.  Many Americans have been awarded this honor, although the title is not recognized here.  Norman Schwartzkopf, Rudy Giuliani and Bill Gates, to name a few.  Immigrants can be knighted, such as Rushdie....hardly your typical Brit.

To be made a member of the peerage, as I understand it, you either have to be born into it or be elevated to it by the monarch.  Membership would also put you into the House of Lords.