“ It means a lot actually, it means recognition for the things we’ve done. I was really pleased to accept this.” – Ringo Starr

Musician Ringo Starr, the Beatles drummer has been knighted for his service to music. The Duke of Cambridge bestowed the honor on the Liverpool-born star at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The honor comes 53 years after the Beatles were all awarded the MBE, and Starr said he had missed his bandmates companionship this time around.

“I was a bit shaky today on my own” – Ringo Starr

When The Beatles received their MBEs in October 1965, the occasion was not without controversy.

Rock and roll were still viewed with suspicion by the establishment and several previous honourees returned their medals in disgust.

Morpurgo honored

Ringo Starr’s honor comes 21 years after fellow Beatle Paul McCartney was knighted.

Starr said the pair had met for dinner last week in Los Angeles, and Sir Paul had offered him some advice for the ceremony: “Keep smiling.”

Other people receiving honors at yesterday’s (March 20) ceremony included authors Jilly Cooper and Michael Morpurgo, former Scottish rugby player John “Ian” McLauchlan, Welsh rugby player Sam Warburton and foster carer Anne Shaw.

• Sri Lanka Navy divers felicitated by China for daring rescue operation
• World Ocean Day: 8.8 million tons of plastic ends up in the world oceans each year
• Police secures court order to block JJB protest opposite Election Commission
• Pope Francis ‘conscious, alert and joking’ after 3-hour abdominal surgery says his surgeon.
• MP Gajendrakumar released on bail