Bono accepts honorary knighthood

A honorary knighthood has been presented to Bono in Dublin in recognition of his charity work.

The U2 star was given the honour at the official residence of the British ambassador to Ireland, David Reddaway. It was awarded in the New Year's honours list.

Bono's official title is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE). Not being a British citizen, he cannot be called Sir.

He joked after the ceremony: "You have permission to call me anything you want except Sir." He suggested some examples: "Lord of lords, your demi-godness."

In a letter read out at the ceremony, attended by bandmates The Edge and Adam Clayton, Tony Blair thanked the star for his campaigning on international poverty.

He had written: "I'll leave it to others far more knowledgeable than me to talk about U2's music - all I'll say is that, along with millions of others right across the world, I'm a huge fan."

Bono thinks the honour will help him in his lobbying: "An award like this actually really helps me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through and that's the truth, that's the way the world is."