London (CNN) Legendary rock guitarist Brian May was knighted by Britain’s King Charles III.
May, who was a founding member of the Queen band, will now be known as Sir Brian after the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
May was honored for her services to music and charity.
The star was awarded the title of Knight Bachelor for his services to music and charity. He attended the ceremony alongside his wife, Anita Dobson, a former star of British soap opera ‘EastEnders’.
Congratulating him online, a Tweeter of Queen’s official account said: “Arise Sir Brian May
“Brian’s Investiture as a Knight of the Kingdom took place today at Buckingham Palace. The knighthood was presented to Brian by His Royal Highness, King Charles.
“Many congratulations, Sir Brian!”
Brian May performed at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Party outside Buckingham Palace last year.
There was also a post on the official Twitter account of the royal family about the event, picturing May alongside fellow honoree British saxophonist YolanDa Brown.
May, 75, was one of more than 1,000 people honored on King Charles III’s first New Year’s Honors List, announced in December 2022.
In addition to performing with Queen since the 1970s, May is also an astrophysicist. He received his doctorate in astrophysics from Imperial College London in 2007 after having interrupted his studies in the 1970s to concentrate on the group.
He is also a strong animal rights advocate and critic of hunting. In 2010 he formed an organization called Save Me Trust, to campaign against fox hunting and badger culling in the UK.
May isn’t the only Queen member to receive a royal title. Drummer Roger Taylor was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2020. May was previously awarded the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2005.
May performed a famous rendition of “God Save the Queen” from the roof of Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.
Twenty years later, he performed with Queen for the Platinum Jubilee concert of the same monarch.