Associated
Press Actor Sir Roger Moore
and his wife Kristina pose with his Knighthood at London's
Buckingham Palace. The 75-year-old was knighted not for his
acting but for his charity work, including 12 years as a
goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund.
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LONDON – He's Sir Roger Moore
now but the actor, who received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II
on Thursday, says he doesn't mind if fans still refer to him as 007.
Rock star Sting also was honored by the queen.
Moore, 75, was knighted not for his portrayal of the unflappable
British secret agent James Bond but for his charity work, including
12 years as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nations
Children's Fund.
"Her Majesty said I'd been involved with charities for a long
time but she supposed that people will always call me 007," Moore
said. "I said that I didn't mind because I was paid money for it!"
Earlier this year, Moore had a pacemaker fitted after collapsing
on stage during a performance on Broadway. He is the second James
Bond actor to be knighted – Sir Sean Connery was honored three years
ago.
"I had the worst attack of stage fright in my life," Moore said
of his meeting with the queen at Buckingham Palace.
"When you realize the gravitas of the situation, it's slightly
nerve-racking," he said. "It was like a costume drama and I was Sir
Ivanhoe – a part I have played, incidentally."
The current Bond, Pierce Brosnan, collected an honorary Order of
the British Empire in July. It was honorary because he is an Irish
citizen.
Moore made seven Bond movies between 1973 and 1985, the same
number as Connery, and previously starred in hit TV shows "The
Saint" and "The Persuaders."
Associated
Press Rock star Sting holds
his CBE, or Commander of the Order of the British Empire,
which he received from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for
services to the music industry.
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Rock star Sting also met the
queen Thursday and was made a CBE, or Commander of the British
Empire, a lesser honor than a knighthood.
Announced at the palace as "Gordon Sumner, known as Sting," the
51-year-old singer and songwriter took a bow before the queen.
"I've never met the queen before. It's a little bit like a
dream," said Sting, formerly a member of the hit rock group The
Police.
"I'd be surprised if she knows my music – I know (Prince) Charles
listens to it – but there's always hope."
The honors are bestowed by the queen but largely selected by the
government. The recipients were announced in June.
