The Beatles legend Ringo Starr finally gets his knighthood at Buckingham Palace
THE Beatles' Ringo Starr finally received a knighthood at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace today.
Described as the "most overdue knighthood of all time" by musical writer Sir Tim Rice, the honour was presented by the Duke of Cambridge.
Starr, 77, previously said: "It's great! It's an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love. Ringo."
Ringo was given an MBE in 1965 along with his bandmates.
Sir Paul McCartney was knighted in 1997 but Ringo was said to have given up all hope before a letter arrived from the Palace last year.
A close family friend of Ringo said at the time: “It came as a bolt from the blue.
“Ringo was totally knocked sideways but is chuffed to bits.”
George Harrison and John Lennon never received knighthoods, and will now not do so as recipients have to be alive to accept the honour according to current rules.
The star, real name Richard Starkey, got his first drum kit as a Christmas present aged 17.
Within five years he was part of the biggest band in the world.
Ringo, who is said to be worth £300million, was born and raised in a two-up, two-down terraced house in Madryn Street, Liverpool, to a docker dad and bakery worker mum.
His parents divorced when he was three and his childhood was dogged by illness.
He missed so much schooling that by 15, he could barely read or write. But he had an aptitude for woodwork, mechanics and music.
Ringo took early jobs as a delivery boy, a trainee joiner and a barman on the Mersey ferries.
His dream came true when his stepfather bought him a drum kit for Christmas 1957, and he promised to be “the best drummer ever”.
By the time the Beatles were formed, Ringo was already on the tour circuit with the successful band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
The Fab Four’s manager Brian Epstein poached him to replace Pete Best as drummer in 1962 and it completed the magic formula that catapulted the group to international fame.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Recipients today also included authors Michael Morpurgo and Jilly Cooper, who collectd a knighthood and CBE respectively, both for services to literature and charity.
Both novelists previously received OBEs.
Morpurgo, 74, said he had Joey, the equine character from the 1982 children's book War Horse, which became a hit international play, to thank for his knighthood.
He said previously: "There was never a knight that has owed so much to his horse as this one - and in fact, we will give the knighthood to Joey and call him Sir Joey."
Former Scottish rugby player John "Ian" McLauchlan, Welsh rugby player Sam Kennedy-Warburton and foster carer Anne Shaw are also among those honoured at the ceremony.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.