As Prince Andrew continued a three-day tour of New York City, he announced that the city’s mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, will receive an honorary British knighthood for his leadership in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
“It is a great pleasure and honour for me to be in New York again,” said the Prince. “I have just one small announcement to make,” he added, before reading the full citation granting the knighthood to Giuliani “for his outstanding help and support to the bereaved British families.” The announcement included a statement from Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said Giuliani had “provided heroic leadership” throughout the tragedy.
Honorary titles of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) are also being conferred on the city’s police and fire commissioners.
Upon hearing the news, Mayor Giuliani said that he was “humbled and gratified” by the honour, adding that he and the other recipients “see it as an award being given to all of the people of New York City.”
The mayor, who now can use the prestigious initals KBE after his name, joked: “Just call me Rudy - I always like that.”
The NYC mayor joins a handful of Americans to be made an honorary Knight of the British Empire, including former US President Ronald Reagan, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and film director Steven Spielberg. However, he does not become Sir Rudolph, and he will not be dubbed with a sword during the ceremony.
Rumours that the New York mayor would receive the knighthood had been making the rounds all weekend. “The Queen believes that Rudolph Giuliani was an inspiration to political leaders around the world as well as to his city,” said one Palace source as reports of a possible knighthood for the mayor emerged. “She was grateful for his support for Britons bereaved by the tragedy and feels that this will also be a gesture of solidarity between America and Britain.”
The knighthood was proposed by the prime minister, who visited the city two weeks ago, in recognition of the mayor’s compassion to victims of the atrocity, and the calm confidence with which he took control of the rescue and recovery mission.
Prince Andrew, the first member of the royal family to visit New York since attacks, is in the city to show Britain’s support and to kick off the UK With NY British arts festival. He began his official engagements on Sunday, delivering a reading at Manhattan’s St Thomas Church and later attending an open-air concert by the Coldstream Guards at Washington Square Park.
Today the Prince rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and plans to lay a wreath at the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, which has become a shrine to British victims of the attacks. Up to 200 Britons are listed as missing or killed in the tragedy.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
