Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft Corporation has received an honorary knighthood from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in a private ceremony held at Buckingham Palace today.
Honorary knighthoods are awarded by the Queen, on the advice of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, to those who have made an important contribution to British interests.
Previous US citizens receiving honorary knighthoods include former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and entertainer Bob Hope.
The honorary award recognizes Mr Gates' contributions to improving health and reducing poverty in parts of the Commonwealth and elsewhere in the developing world, as well as his contribution to enterprise, employment, education, and the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued today, Bill Gates said,
"I am humbled and delighted. I'm particularly pleased that this honour helps recognize the real heroes our foundation supports to improve health in poor countries. Their incredible work is helping ensure that one day all people - no matter where they are born - will have the same opportunity for a healthy life, and I'm humbled to share this honour with them.
This honour is particularly poignant given the deep connections Microsoft enjoys with the United Kingdom. Over the past 23 years we have benefited greatly from strong business alliances and the tremendous wealth of talent and creativity of our UK employees and researchers. The UK was the first country in which Microsoft set up a subsidiary outside the US, and our experience in the UK has been significant in shaping our international growth.
The companies and organisations that we have supported and partnered with since, and their employees, have been an important part of the positive impact technology has had on economic growth and on the lives of people in the UK. I am proud of this special relationship and the role we have helped to play in the development of the UK technology industry."
Bill Gates was accompanied by his wife Melinda, co-founder of the Gates Foundation.
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