Patrick Stewart got used to being called ‘sir’ playing Captain Jean Luc Picard during seven seasons of Star Trek The Next Generation and four feature films. But now it appears he will be being called ‘sir’ in real life as news out of the UK reports the actor will be knighted by the Queen.
That’s ‘Sir Patrick’ To You
The UK’s Mirror is reporting that Patrick Stewart, who has been spending much of the last decade returning to his roots on the British stage, is to be knighted by the Queen on this years New Year’s Honours list. However, the news is not official, and being cited to "palace sources" According to the report, Stewart is being honored for his "services to drama."
Assuming the report is true, Stewart will join the ranks of other great actors and actresses who have been previously honored as Sirs and Dames, including Michael Caine, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Lee, Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Sean Connery, Ian McKellen, Roger Moore, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, and Alec Guiness. Now Patrick and his and friend Ian can call each other "sir."
Stewart with his friend Sir Ian McKellen at the Variety Club Showbiz Awards in London November 15th, 2009
Is the Queen a Trek fan?
The Mirror also notes that the sources say the Queen is a fan:
Palace sources said the Queen is a huge fan of the 69-year-old, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation
Not sure if that means she is a fan of his stage work, but could it be that Queen Elizabeth II is a Next Gen fan? If so, what could be her favorite episode? Does her majesty think First Contact violated canon because it introduced the Borg Queen?
Queen Elizabeth II – reportedly a fan of Patrick Stewart
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, as a staunch republican I can’t get too excited, but if anyone should be Sir, it might was well be Sir Patrick Stewart.
‘Sir’ Patrick sounds really fine- and he’s definitely earned it!
make it so
Ian’s shoes are wierd
He very much deserves this. Congratulations ‘Sir’ Patrick Stewart :)
Sir Patrick is one of the nicest folks I’ve ever met — worked with him a few times and ever the gentleman — and a consummate pro!
Aye Sir!
“Sir” Patrick would be great… he has to get rid of the Magnum P.I. mustache first though.
Well, the queen is a Doctor Who fan and a technogeek, so her being a Trek fan isn’t too farfetched.
Cool, though. The title’s pretty much just nominal but still, Patrick Stewart belongs alongside Ian McKellan, Christopher Lee, and Sean Connery.
:D Congratulations Mr. Stewart!
Well deserved. And he is in good company. Alot of fine folks with great talent!
Love your show, “G. Gordon Liddy”…
It’d be entirely appropriate, and I’d get a royal kick out of referring to him as “Sir Patrick.” The man just rocks.
IT’S ABOUT TIME!
Seriously, I was simply dumbfounded that he hadn’t been knighted yet. Long overdue, and extremely well-deserved.
Wow, congrats. Christopher Lee was recently announced to be Knighted as well (long overdue!)
Congratulations, Sir Patrick Stewart. You deserve that title.
And the last 5 years, I have called him Sir Patrick Stewart by mistake. I thought he was knighted long time ago without any public announcement.
Do you think Sir Patrick Stewart will make a guest appearance on the new TV series, base on the classic series, “The Prisoner” with Sir Ian McKellen?
It would be nice if both Sir Patrick and Sir Ian appear together in the final “Harry Potter” movie. Who knows.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone. Live Long and Prosper. Long Life and Happiness.
Good for him!!!
Wonderful! Just wonderful! Congratualtions with all my heart, Sir Patrick!
First of all….
The fact that Royalty families still exist in this day and age is SAD !
Hence forth, i consider this ”honour” to be pathetic. Patrick does not need any lousy and pathetic ”royalty” to pay tribute to him. Patrick is awesome without it.
Yes, being knighted is great, but being rich is better. (Of course, Mr. Stewart is both.) Besides, as the recipient of a knighthood, you’re only required to be called “sir” in the UK, not anywhere else.
Here in the U.S., he’s plain ol’ Patrick Stewart.
But congrats, just the same. :-)
I know I said I wouldn’t post here again but this article has changed my mind. As TNG is my favorite show, and I believe Patrick Stewart to be the best actor ever in Star Trek, I must offer my congratulations to soon-to-be Sir Patrick Stewart. Make it so!
A distinguished actor that deserves the accolades he is getting. The person he passed the torch backwards to, Chris Pine does not deserve them, yet.
Also he would never be knighted because as far as i’m aware he is not Brittish nor is Shatner who is Canadian.
About the Canadian knighthood thing — please see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_titles_debate
Conrad Black is an example of a Canuck who recently received a peerage, but he relinquished his Canadian citizenship, I believe.
It’s amazing the stuff that gets discussed in a Trek forum.
Besides, did Mr. Shatner never secure an American citizenship? It’s an interesting question.
Of course hes American but first he was a Canadian and is known as a Canadian actor. And so is Hayden Christensen.
Most excellent news, though in this day and age the honor of British knighthood is somewhat less, well, honorable than it has been in the past.
But I am definitely very pleased to see this. A heart-felt congratulations to Mr. Stewart.
“Engage!”
Thats great!!! Couldn’t of happend to a nicer man!
Bill once said he preferred the American way oh honouring talent- by giving them money! lol
But Bill could be given a Knighthood. Steven Spielberg was given one. Its just a title. Doesn’t incur wealth and vast stately estates on the recipient! lol
Still, Congratulations to Patrick. I knew he would get the title one day.
To all those saying Bill Shatner should receive a knighthood (and he is eligible as a Commonwealth citizen, and as a subject of the Queen as a citizen of Canada), I started a petition for the same on the Downing Street website a few years back. Nothing came of it. Perhaps it’s time to try again.
He deserves it.
Congrats, Sir Patrick. You have earned the title. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2010. Live long and prosper!
God knows he deserves it, has to be the finest actor to ever grace Star Trek and who knows if he hadn’t been cast if TNG would have made it (not to say that the rest of the cast wasn’t great). I agree that he has done a great service to theater around the world.
A parting gift from the Labour party whom Stewart funded whilst working in California?
Steven Speilberg is acually a sir too, but as a non-brit he isn’t allowed the use the title. He gets to use KBE (Knight of the British Empire)
t
33.
Correction. As an *American* he isn’t allowed to use the title. The constitution outright bars any American from holding a noble title. Of course, Americans have been and will likely continue to be knighted, but they can’t use it at home.
Great news! I’m not really one for doing things out of tradition, but I think the Queen’s new year’s honours are a great way to thank people for their contributions to their field in a way that’s more special than an ordinary award.
Oh and the Queen likes going to watch plays quite often, so she’s probably seen Sir Patrick on stage a few times.
I wonder if Captain Jean-Luc Picard knows that he bears an uncanny resemblance to an actor of some note who was knighted by the British monarch in 2009.
This brings me back to the classic question of whether there is an entertainment franchise known as “Star Trek” in the Star Trek universe. If the answer is “no,” then that sort of puts a damper on the idea that Star Trek is our future. If the answer is “yes,” then that sort of doesn’t make sense.
I mean, 2010, not 2009.
This is great news. Patrick Stewart is one of my all time favourite and Captain Picard one of my all time fav characters.
This is an honour he truly deserves
this site has some real pond-life for members.
taking Stewarts good news as a chance to bash the monarchy.
I think they are jealous that we in the United Kingdom have one.
btw
20 jas_montreal
it’s not royalty family, it’s ROYAL family.
…………..
here to correct you ignorance
Congratulations to Sir Patrick!
Well deserved, one of our nations top thespians, and about time!
Trek’s first Knight!
Is that Sir Captain Jean-Luc or Captain Picard, SIR! ?
Congratulations! Mustn’t let Ian have one up on you.
Sir Patrick Stewart has a nice ring to it! Congratulations!
– Congratulations , Sir Patrick Stewart…!!!…
It must be in recognition of his stage work. I find it hard to believe the scant amount of work Stewart has done on television and movies like Xmen and Dune would merit such an honor.
wow. mckellen’s FTW :))
@ 39.
I don’t care. I don’t think anyone is special over another person. That is not ignorance btw…. thats just modern thinking.
#39 – Yep, pretty ridiculous. Congrats again to Sir Patrick.
No one is superior to anyone else in what would be termed the eyes of God — if God exists.
It is an unfortunate fact that, because of human vanity, ranks must be enabled and obeisance is demanded in certain circumstances. Call it meritocracy, or not — even if it isn’t.
I like to think of it as recognition for a life well lived or, at any rate, a life well accomplished. Nothing more. In the end, it really doesn’t matter, in the same sense that in the end, the Earth claims its own.
It’s always puzzled me why Sir Pat was overlooked.. up ’til now! well done.. you’ve most certainly earned it!