Sir Roger Daltrey, 81, was awarded his knighthood by the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, December 10, after being named in The King’s Birthday Honours list earlier this year. The rock legend was recognised as a Knight Bachelor for his decades-long services to music and charity. Over the past two decades, he has worked tirelessly to raise vital funds to help those who need it most.
Sir Roger has been the driving force behind the Teenage Cancer Trust’s annual Royal Albert Hall concerts since 2000, and the sell-out shows have raised more than £32million for the charity. They have helped to fund 28 specialist NHS units across the UK dedicated to young people living with cancer.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Sir Roger said: “I accept this award not only for myself but on behalf of all the unsung heroes who have given their energy towards making the Teenage Cancer Trust the success it has become.”
When his knighthood was announced in June, his band, Tho Who, paid tribute to him, saying: “Sir Roger is a true inspiration and we salute him and all the other honourees from the worlds of music and the creative arts for enriching our lives with their brilliant human artistry and achievements.”
Despite the honour, Sir Roger has previously admitted he never expected to be knighted, believing his outspoken views may have counted against him.
Speaking in 2022, he said: “I’ve probably been too political, too critical of our leaders to ever attain that kind of position. But I don’t give a c**p. I say what I feel at the time. If I’m wrong, I’ll stand up and say, ‘Sorry, I was wrong.’”
He later told the Press Association he felt “deeply honoured” by the recognition, adding: “It’s a wonderful honour for me, and especially for Teenage Cancer Trust. Nobody’s going to like you all of the time. I’m a human being, and none of us is perfect.”
The honour comes just a day after Claudia Winkleman was seen beaming as she received her MBE from King Charles during a separate ceremony on Tuesday.
