Senator Lugar awarded Honorary Knighthood for service to UK-US defence relationship
Ambassador Peter Westmacott presented Senator Lugar with the honour in recognition of his years of service making the world more secure.
Ambassador Peter Westmacott presents former US Senator Richard Lugar with the insignia of the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) at the British Embassy in Washington.
In an investiture ceremony at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington on 16 April, former US Senator Richard Lugar received one of Britain’s highest honours. He became an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
British Ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott, presented Senator Lugar with the honour in recognition of his years of service making the world more secure from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and his outstanding commitment throughout his political career to the UK-US alliance, including, most recently, his staunch efforts securing Senate ratification of the UK-US Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty.
“Senator Lugar’s association with the UK began almost 60 years ago when he attended Pembroke College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar,” Ambassador Westmacott said. “Since that time he has been a leading proponent of the essential alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. He has worked courageously with the UK to combat the proliferation of arms and nuclear weapons, and he was instrumental in obtaining Senate ratification for the US-UK Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty, which came into effect last year. I congratulate Senator Lugar on this well-deserved honour.”
Upon accepting the honour, Senator Lugar said:
I am deeply honoured that Her Majesty the Queen of England has conferred upon me the rank of honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. I was first inspired by her leadership when she received me as a young Rhodes Scholar in London, 58 years ago, and asked me about Indiana. I have focused my service on solving our most serious challenges in a spirit of cooperation between our countries, our allies, and all people of good will. I take this appointment as encouragement to continue these endeavours.
The UK honours system recognises exceptional achievement and service to the nation, and includes non-British nationals who receive “Honorary” awards. All British honours are awarded on merit, and honorary awards are conferred by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Other US nationals who have received honorary knighthoods include Colin Powell, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Rudolf Giuliani, and Alan Greenspan.
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