Lewis Hamilton is now “Sir” as well as a seven-time Formula One champion.
Hamilton was knighted on Wednesday as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s honors list, which also recognized British actors, politicians, public servants and outsiders who worked to defeat the crown virus and its devastating effects.
Hamilton, who won his seventh F1 title last month to match Michael Schumacher ‘s record, has said his recent success was partly inspired by the Black Lives Matter move. .
The 35-year-old race car driver knelt on the sidelines and threw anti-racism slogans throughout the season.
Hamilton told the BBC last week that “it was a different campaign than I was before, getting to the end of those races first so I can use that platform.” against racism.
Supporters have said Hamilton would have been knighted sooner had it not been for his tax status. Hamilton’s knighthood was awarded in the “overseas” category on the honors list as he lives in Monaco at a lower level.
His tax affairs made headlines in 2017 when a Paradise Papers leak revealed that he had evaded paying more than 4 million USD in taxes on a private jet registered in the Isle of Man, a tax haven.
Lewis Hamilton will drive through the qualifying session of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Tour. (Reuters / FILE)
Motorsport UK chairman David Richards said Hamilton’s tax status had been “completely misunderstood” and that the racing champion was one of the top 5,000 taxpayers in the UK
In other honors, comedian Sheila Hancock was made a goddess, the knight-like figure, in recognition of her six-year career.
Renowned artist Pat McGrath was named “the most influential makeup artist in the world” by Vogue, a goddess.
There was chivalry for cinematographer Roger Deakins, a 15-time Academy Award nominee who has won Oscars for “Blade Runner 2049” and “1917.”
Actress Lesley Manville, Oscar nominee for “Phantom Thread,” has been named Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE. Actor Toby Jones, whose beliefs include portraying Dobby’s character in two “Harry Potter” films, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire or OBE, as was the writer. Jed Mercurio, creator of the TV detective series “Line of Duty. ”
Former footballers Jimmy Greaves and Ron Flowers have been made members of the Order of the British Empire, or MBEs, following a long-running campaign to ensure that every remaining member of the team live in England 1966 World Cup honors.
A queen is honored twice a year, at the end of December and in June, when the king’s birthday is celebrated. The awards recognize hundreds of people for services to British community or national life. Recipients are elected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public.
Greta Westwood, chief executive of the Florence Nightingale Foundation nursing charity, received a CBE for her work clarifying the mental health tax of pandemic on frontline workers.
Others honored for their work through the pandemic include research scientists, statistical moderators, engineers and manufacturer Katherine Dawson, who received an OBE for making scratches for physicians when supply was scarce.
In descending order, the principal honors are knights, CBE, OBE and Member of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE. Knights are treated as “sir” or “dame,” followed by the name. Recipients of the other honors do not have a title, but can put the letters after their names.
There has been growing criticism of the honor of the British Empire, and a legacy has been rekindled among anti-racism and colonialism campaigns around the world.
Labor Party education spokeswoman Kate Green, who holds an OBE, recently described the honorary titles as “offensive and sarcastic.” The British government said there were no plans to change the titles. (AP)