Bono has been awarded an honorary knighthood during a ceremony at the home
of the British Ambassdor to Ireland today.
The U2 frontman has received the honour from Queen Elizabeth in recognition
of his humanitarian and musical achievements.
The singer said he was grateful to receive the award, which he said he was
accepting on behalf of U2 and the debt crisis movement.
Bono, 46, is not entitled to be given the title "Sir" because he is not a
British citizen.
"You have permission to call me anything you want except Sir," he said,
before suggesting alternative titles including "lord of lords, your
demi-godness."
Bono said he had originally planned to accept the knighthood in a low-key
ceremony but was inspired to mark the occasion properly after watching
Monday's historic press conference between Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley.
"I wasn't even going to have a bit of a do, I was going to slip it in, keep
it very, very quiet," he said.
"But when I saw Big Ian sitting down there with Gerry Adams I just thought
this is the end of an era, but the beginning of a much better one."
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