Arise Sir Sean - 5th July 2000
EDINBURGH, Scotland - Veteran James Bond actor Sean Connery was knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth Wednesday,
two years after he was reportedly denied a knighthood because of his passionate Scottish nationalism.Wearing full
highland dress in the dark green MacLeod tartan, 'Sir Sean' emerged from the hour-long ceremony at Edinburgh's
Holyrood Palace to meet reporters and cheering crowds who had gathered to see him. His wife Micheline and brother
Neil were by his side.
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``It's one of the proudest days of my life,'' said a beaming Connery, 69, proudly showing off the gold medal
on its bright red sash. ``It means a great deal for it to happen in Scotland.''
Wednesday's ceremony was the only time in the year that the Queen awards honors in Scotland. Connery's knighthood
was announced in the queen's New Year's Honors list. But many believe the Hollywood star should have been honored
before now. In 1998, he was at the heart of a bitter political row after it was widely reported the ruling Labor
party had blocked plans to award him a knighthood. The 007 actor is a high-profile supporter of the Scottish National
Party, now the official opposition in the Scottish Parliament, and a vocal campaigner for an independent Scotland.
But Sir Sean refused to comment about his long wait.
Decked out in full Scottish regalia, Sean Connery was formally knighted Wednesday by Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony
at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. ``It's one of the proudest days of my life,'' the star of seven James Bond films
told reporters, accompanied by his wife, Micheline, and brother, Neil. Connery, 69, knelt while the queen touched
his shoulders lightly with a sword and then rose and bowed as she placed a small red sash bearing his medal around
his neck.
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During the brief conversation that ensued, Connery said, ``She just asked how often I come up here.''
Though Connery is a native of Scotland and bears a tattoo proclaiming ``Scotland Forever,'' he does not reside
here. Asked by a reporter Wednesday if he would be coming back to Scotland, he broke into a grin and said, ``I
haven't gone yet.''
