Bling is fit for a king in Bono's crowning glory
U2 frontman Bono yesterday declared his love for England as he accepted an honorary knighthood from the Queen.
But the peace-loving singer warned there was one thing he wouldn't stand for - being called Sir.
Accepting his bit of "bling" on behalf of the anti-poverty movement and the band, the U2 singer reached a new elevation as he was awarded the Status of Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Following in the footsteps of another Dubliner Bob Geldof, the 46-year-old was keen to avoid the nickname Sir Bono, which has stuck to his campaigning predecessor, despite him not being entitled to it.
Sporting his wraparound shades and platform shoes, he modestly joked: "You have my permission to call me pretty much anything, Lord of Lords, your demi-Godness, but not Sir."
For the man who has already picked up almost every award on offer from the 2005 'Time' Person of the Year to the French Legion D'Honneur, Bono said this would help open doors as there were still governments and groups who did not want to meet him.
There was a fleet of cars - Mercedes, Maserati and Jaguars - befitting a rockstar and his entourage parked up outside the Dublin residence of the British Ambassador David Reddaway.
Inside, the room was packed as his wife Ali, dressed all in black, sat flanked by her two girls Jordan and Eve, with the boys Eli and his youngest, John, sitting cross-legged on the floor for the brief ceremony.
"John thought I was getting a light sword and becoming a Jedi," he laughed afterwards.
During the ceremony, a letter was read out from British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who called Bono "inspirational" for his remarkable work in the fight against poverty.
Praised
He was praised for his role in the run-up to the G8 summit, which focused on helping poor nations in Africa.
Bono's brother Norman Hewson was there, as were Ali's parents Joy and Terry Stewart, his close friend Gavin Friday, artist pal Guggi, his friend Simon Carmody, crew member AJ Rankin, Paul McGuinness's wife Kathy Gilfillan, artist Louis le Brocquy and his wife Anne Madden.
"I love Great Britain, I think Great Britain is great. Irish people support British football teams, Irish bands sign to British record labels, Irish people speak English. We even have one in our band," he said on the lawns of the old house.
"You think rock bands are supposed to kick against the establishment. Well I always thought U2 had more interesting enemies than that. For us, it was always the established order of things that we fought against."
Bono said it was great that two of his bandmates the Edge and Adam Clayton had turned up for the ceremony, adding: "I know they squirm when they see me in interesting company, they still support what I do in every way.
"This though is about something I think bigger than my own involvement, it is about a movement that has gathered to rid the world of this ridiculous idea that you can starve to death in the 21st century," he said.
He said he was proud of the work the debt relief movement had done in the UK, which had helped 20 million more people in Africa to go to school.
Going off to join in the party, he quipped: "How much do you think I'd get for this thing in Weirs?"
The front man believes his new title will help him secure talks with world politicians to advance the battle against Third World debt.
"An award like this actually really helps me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through and that's the truth, that's the way the world is," he said.
He said the only disappointment of the day came from his young son, John.
"John thought I was getting a light stick - he thought I was becoming a Jedi," he said.
Bono wore two pins on his jacket representing two previous national awards, the Legion d'Honneur presented by President Jacques Chirac on behalf of the French government and the Portuguese Order of Liberty.
I bet he's telling her and kids to call him "sir this" and "sir that" all the time. 
It's a lot shorter than telling everyone in the family to call him "Knight Commander ............. what?" 
I DOUBT that anybody could teach him that... Bono isn't that... handy... so I'm sure that he could hurt himself with a toothpick! 
NIIICE
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...come on he wore a jacket!!!
