Roger Daltrey Knighted in King’s Birthday Honours
Renowned musician Roger Daltrey has been awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours, despite previously expressing doubts about receiving such an honour. The Who frontman, 81, was recognised for his services to charity and music, and has been made a knight bachelor.
According to a statement obtained by The Independent, Daltrey said he was "very humbled" to be acknowledged with the honour. He also expressed his pride in being recognised for his charity work, particularly with the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity he has been closely associated with for many years.
The news of Daltrey’s knighthood was announced on Friday, June 13, as part of the annual honours list. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Daltrey’s tireless efforts in the music industry and his philanthropic work. Daltrey has been a driving force behind the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Royal Albert Hall concerts, which he launched and curated from 2000 to 2025, raising millions for the charity.
Interestingly, Daltrey had previously expressed scepticism about receiving a knighthood. In a 2022 interview with Forbes, he stated that he was "too political" and "too critical of our leaders" to ever attain such a position. However, he has now accepted the honour, saying it was "strange" but that he was "humbled" by it.
In his statement, Daltrey said: "it’s an experience that I’ve never had before. I’m very humbled by it. But equally, pride isn’t something you wear on the outside, you can’t say you’re proud of that, I’m not proud… It’s something that you wear in your heart, and this sits very well in my heart, because it’s for the charity, it is for the music… How lucky was I?"
Daltrey’s charity work will continue, with Robert Smith of The Cure taking over the curation of the London concert series next year. The musician has also expressed his gratitude for being recognised for his contributions to music, which has been a significant part of his life since rising to fame in the Sixties with The Who.
The Who, comprising Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle, became known for their energetic live performances, which often featured the band smashing up their instruments. Sadly, Moon and Entwistle have since passed away, but Daltrey and Townshend continue to tour as The Who.
Reflecting on his early days, Daltrey said: "No, I mean, you’ve got to remember, we came from post-war England, I was born in an air raid. We had hardly anything at all, but that was a blank canvas to paint [whatever] we wanted to do in our lives. We could paint ourselves onto that canvas and make it count, and we got into music, we got lucky, it’s as simple as that."
Daltrey published his autobiography, Thanks a Lot Mr Kibblewhite, in 2018. He will remain an honorary patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
This article is based on a report by The Independent. The Independent has been a trusted source of news and information for many years, providing in-depth coverage of national and international events.
Additional reporting by Press Association.
