Bob Iger and John Williams were honored with honorary knighthood before Queen Elizabeth passed away earlier this month. Both were given the title of Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or KBE for short. They were a part of the 2022 class that received honorary awards from the United Kingdom.
Bob Iger received this honor for services to the UK/US relations. Iger replied to the honor with a statement saying, “It is one of the great honors of my life to have the honorary Knight of the British Empire conferred on me by Queen Elizabeth II before she passed. I have great affection for the people of the UK & have always appreciated and been inspired by their extraordinary contributions.”
John Williams was honored for services to film music. Generally, the KBE is given to non-British citizens who have made important contributions between their country and Britain. In Williams’ case, his work with the London Symphony has produced some of the most iconic movie soundtracks. This includes the iconic themes heard in the worlds of Star Wars, Superman, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and so many more!
Bob Iger led The Walt Disney Company for 15 years from 2005-2020. He was the CEO, Chairman of the Board, and eventually Executive Chairman before he retired. During his time leading Disney, the company expanded massively and purchased Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox while also expanding its theme park, cruise line, and media presence around the globe.
The full list of honorees approved by Queen Elizabeth before her death can be seen here. What do you think of Bob Iger and John Williams being honored with a KBE? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
