Queen guitarist Brian May famously played the British national anthem from the roof of Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth‘s Golden Jubilee in 2002.
Now, 21 years later and inside Buckingham Palace, the rock star has received his Knight Bachelor from new monarch King Charles.
The 75-year-old was honoured on Tuesday not only for his services to music but also his charity work.
READ MORE: ‘Harder’ Will Smith jokes were cut from Oscars, producer reveals
The songwriter and animal welfare advocate, who started the band Queen in 1970 alongside Roger Taylor and the late Freddie Mercury, also has a PhD degree in astrophysics.
This means his full official title is now: Sir Dr Brian May.
READ MORE: Why Hugh Grant’s Oscars chat was so painful to watch
May was supported by his wife of 23 years, actress Anita Dobson, along with other members of his family for the special day.
Taking to social media, the UK legend shared a photo of the honour formally being awarded to him as King Charles placed a sword on his shoulders.
“No words !,” he wrote.
Back in 2005, May was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the music industry and for charity work.
In an interview last year, he reflected on his Buckingham Palace performance of God Save the Queen during the Party at the Palace concert 20 years earlier, on June 3, 2002.
He called the experience life-changing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxNrkwsKED/?utm_source=ig_embed&
“The roof was a very special thing, that’s something you do once in your life,” he told the Express.co.uk.
“It was riveting and it was terrifying for me and it changed me as a person.”
He echoed a similar sentiment when he shared a clip of the performance on social media.
“I was on top of Buckingham Palace. The loneliest place in the world, playing God Save The Queen and terrified out of my wits,” he said in the caption.
“But it’s one of those times where you face the fear and you’re never quite the same again after it.”
While May didn’t reprise the rooftop role during the Queen’s historic Platinum Party At The Palace last year, he still featured in the festivities.
And one of the band’s biggest hits was prominently highlighted; Her Majesty kicked off the concert by tapping the tune of We Will Rock You at the end of her Paddington Bear skit.
For a daily dose of 9Honey, subscribe to our newsletter here