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The Decorated Sir Elton John

The Decorated Sir Elton John

“… Holmes refused a knighthood for services which may perhaps some day be described.”

– The Adventure of the Three Garridebs – (3GAR)

Elton John receiving his Knighthood, 1998

During his long and illustrious career, Elton John has been honoured by Queen Elizabeth II on three separate occasions, in addition to being awarded the Legion of Honor from France. Firstlet’s discuss his first British honor, in the New Years Eve Honours 1996, John was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

The badge for the CBE is in the form of a cross patonce (having the arms growing broader and floriated toward the end), the obverse of which bears the left facing busts of King George V and Queen Mary; the reverse bears George V’s Royal and Imperial Cypher. Both are within a ring bearing the motto of the Order. The badges are enamelled with pale blue crosses and crimson ring, and is suspended from a ribbon that is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division.

On Febrary 24, 1998, John became Sir Elton John when the Queen honoured him. At the top of this post is a picture of John, with his family, after the ceremony.

Unlike when Sir Arthur Conan Doyler received his knighthood in 1902, John was presented with a 2 3/8 by 1 3/8 inch medallion was created. The insignia is described as “Upon an oval medallion of vermilion, enclosed by a scroll a cross-hilted sword belted and sheathed, pommel upwards, between two spurs, rowels upwards, the whole set about with the sword belt, all gilt.”

Most recently, in the New Years Eve Honours 2020, it was announced that John was named as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to music and to charity. Due to the COID-19 pandemic, this has not yet had a ceremony scheduled.

The order is an oval medallion, surmounted by an imperial crown, and with a rectangular panel within, depicting on it an oak tree, a shield with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom hanging from one branch, and, on the left, a mounted knight in armour. The insignia’s blue border bears in gold letters the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR. Men wear the badge on a neck ribbon (red with golden border threads).

On June 21, 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron awarded John as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Macron’s office declared John a “melodic genius” and one of the first gay artists to give a voice to the LGBT community.

British singer-songwriter Elton John addresses a crowd in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace in Paris, on June 21, 2019, as part of a ceremony in which he was awarded the French Legion of Honour from the French president.  ~ Photo by Lewis Joly / AFP / Getty Images

For more information about the various levels of the French Legion of Honour, we encourage you to read our earlier post on the honour.

Executive Producer of Sherlock Gnomes Featured on 2020 UK Coins

Executive Producer of Sherlock Gnomes Featured on 2020 UK Coins

“… still standing in the doorway …” – The Sign of the Four (SIGN) The British Royal Mint has recently announced the second design of there series “Music Legends” will feature Sir Elton John. We are only mentioning this here as John served as a Executive Producer on the Sherlock Gnomes film. You can read more… Continue Reading

Louis Hector’s Only Film Role! – Northwest Passage (1940)

Louis Hector’s Only Film Role! – Northwest Passage (1940)

“… the actors have passed for ever out of our busy lives.” – The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist (SOLI) In February, 1940, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures released Northwest Passage (Book 1 – Rogers Rangers). Directed by King Vidor and starring Spencer Tracy as Richard Rogers. This was MGM’s most expensive production since its 1926 production of Ben Hur and… Continue Reading

NCLT Coins Featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man

NCLT Coins Featuring Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man

“… iron-faced men …”  – A Study in Scarlet (STUD) I never realized that South Pacific Islanders were so fanatical about the Marvel Comic Universe and the movies that have been produced about those characters. Seriously, we have been reminded that we did posts featuring the non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman,… Continue Reading

Faces of Holmes: Charlie McCarthy, Detective

Faces of Holmes: Charlie McCarthy, Detective

“… all were equally puppets in his hands.” – The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist (SOLI) Comedian and actor Edgar Berggren was born in Chicago in 1903. Begining at the age of 11, Edgar began to self-learn ventriliquism and during his late teenage years would be given daily lessons by the famed ventriloquist Harry Lester for… Continue Reading

A Jerry Lewis Enjoyment Certificate with Theatre Imprint

A Jerry Lewis Enjoyment Certificate with Theatre Imprint

“Why not give ourselves up to the unrestrained enjoyment of the present?” – The Adventure of fhe Mazarin Stone (MAZA) Several years ago, we first reported on the Jerrry Lewis Enjoyment Certificates that promoted his 1962 film, It’s Only Money.  The $1,000 note features Lewis donning a deerstalker cap, and all of the notes features an… Continue Reading

Numismatic Items Featuring Detective Pikachu

Numismatic Items Featuring Detective Pikachu

“… a very gregarious creature.” – The Adventure of the Silver Blaze (SILV) August 6, 2019 is the day that Pokemon: Detective Pikachu becomes available for purchase or rental to the general public. This is as good a time to review a couple of numismatic related items to the furry little detective.The movie was a derivative from… Continue Reading

Michael Palin Now a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

Michael Palin Now a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

“If you have a fancy to see your name in the next honours list” – The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans (BRUC)   Monty Python’s Michael Palin hosted the April 8, 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live and portrayed Holmes in a sketch Michael Palin’s name is familiar to fans of Monty Python, but many are not… Continue Reading

Sherlockian Themed Jerry Lewis Laugh Certificates From Malaysia

Sherlockian Themed Jerry Lewis Laugh Certificates From Malaysia

“Sherlock Holmes laughed.” – The Adventure of Silver Blaze (SILV) The 1962 comedy film of It’s Only Money starring Jerry Lewis is turning out to be a treasure trove for Sherlockian numismatists. While Lewis never dons the deerstalker in the film, he is often seen wearing one in the promotional items for the film such as the poster… Continue Reading