Why was 'Sir Cliff Richard' not knighted as 'Sir Harry Webb' ????

Question

Why was 'Sir Cliff Richard' not knighted as 'Sir Harry Webb' ????

Answer 1

Because in 1980, he changed his name by deed poll from Harry Webb to Cliff Richard.  He was not knighted until 1995.

Arise, Sir Cliff!

Answer 2

Isn't it simply because in a way Cliff Richard sold the records and not Harry Webb, even if they are the same person. So the honor is given to the phenomenon, which will make it possible to give it to for instance organisations like red cross, or - who knows - a band like the blue nile. I know knighthood is ofcourse personal, but here in the Netherlands in that way you can earn titles like 'royal society', so maybe in terms of procedure they are the same.

Answer 3

This factoid made my day :)

Answer 4

For the same reason that it is Sir Elton John and not Sir Reginald Dwight. They both legally changed their original names to their stage names.