Knighthood admission by Sir Roger Daltrey: An open discussion on his uneasy title honor
Sir Roger Daltrey Embraces Knighthood for Charity, Yet Feels Uneasy with Formal Honour
In a surprising turn of events, iconic rock singer Sir Roger Daltrey, now 81, was knighted by King Charles in May 2025. The honour was bestowed upon him for his significant contributions to the Teenage Cancer Trust, a cause close to his heart.
In a statement, Sir Roger Daltrey acknowledged his knighthood, but expressed some discomfort with the formal honour. He finds the ceremonial aspect of the knighthood personally awkward, yet recognizes its benefits for his charity work.
"I am humbled by the knighthood, but I must admit, it's not something I feel entirely at ease with," said Sir Roger Daltrey in recent interviews. He further added, "I see the practical advantages it brings, especially how it helps raise the profile of the charities I support."
The Teenage Cancer Trust, which benefits from Sir Roger Daltrey's annual concert series, currently has 28 specialist units in NHS hospitals across the UK. The charity continues to be a priority for Sir Roger Daltrey, who specifically mentioned The Who, Angie Jenkison, Lindsay Hughes, Des Murphy, Rob Ballantine, and the late Chris York as significant contributors to the Trust's success.
In his statement, Sir Roger Daltrey accepted his knighthood on behalf of "unsung heroes" who have helped him in his charity work. He believes that his new title will help "open doors" for his charity work, providing a platform for fundraising and awareness.
Despite his reservations, Sir Roger Daltrey is optimistic about the impact his knighthood can have. He hopes that his new title will help him to continue his charitable work, especially for the Teenage Cancer Trust. However, he also believes that the honours system needs updating to better reflect the modern world.
Despite feeling like he has become part of a "weird club" due to his knighthood, Sir Roger Daltrey remains committed to his charitable work. He expects to live for another 10 years or less, and he plans to make the most of this time to support the causes he cares about.
"Sir Roger Daltrey, in his interviews, mentioned that he sees the practical advantages of his knighthood, such as its ability to raise the profile of the charities he supports, specifically the Teenage Cancer Trust. He further expressed that he plans to use his new title to continue his charitable work in entertainment and news, including fundraising and awareness."
"In his statement, Sir Roger Daltrey, while expressing some discomfort with the formal honour, mentioned the significance of celebrities and their roles in raising awareness for various causes, including his support for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a cause he shares with other renowned figures such as The Who, Angie Jenkison, Lindsay Hughes, Des Murphy, Rob Ballantine, and the late Chris York."