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The Beatles' Drummer Ringo Starr Gets Knighted At Buckingham Palace

The Beatles' Drummer Ringo Starr Gets Knighted At Buckingham Palace

The ex-Beatles drummer was knighted by Prince William today for his services to music, 21 years after his bandmate Sir Paul McCartney.

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden

Ringo Starr, the drummer of the legendary Liverpool band The Beatles, has been knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace today for his services to the music industry.

The iconic musician, who was accompanied by his actress wife Barbara Bach, was pictured outside the palace showing off his medal after the ceremony.

PA

Starr - real name Sir Richard Starkey - got the honour due to his achievements during over 50 years in the music industry, including his revolutionary output with his former bandmates McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison.

Starr received the honour a whopping 53 years after the Beatles collectively received an MBE and 21 years after McCartney was knighted for his own services to music.

Starr was one of a number of high-profile figures to receive honours at the Palace this morning including the Bee Gees singer Barry Gibb, T presenter Eamonn Holmes and the former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Ringo started his career as one of the most sought-after drummers in the burgeoning Liverpool scene, initially as drummer of skiffle band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

He was approached by Lennon to join the Beatles in 1962 after they had signed their first record deal with Parlophone, sacking their original drummer Pete Best to the ire of local fans.

The move proved life-changing for Starr as he reached enormous fame and fortune with the legendary band, releasing legendary albums including Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The White Album.

Although he was most known as the band's percussionist, Starr did sing lead vocals on a few of the Beatles' most famous songs including Yellow Submarine and With A Little Help From Your Friends.

PA

Once the band split up in 1970, Ringo embarked upon an influential solo career starting with the albums Sentimental Journey and Beaucoups of Blues. He has since released 19 solo albums.

Millennials out there will remember Starr having another side-career outside of music on the kids' animated TV show Thomas The Tank Engine, which he narrated from 1984 to 1991.

Starr was eventually replaced as narrator of the show by actor Michael Angelis in the UK version of the show and American comedian George Carlin in the US.

Posting on social media shortly after being named in the Queen's New Year's Honours' list, Starr said: "It's great! It's an honour and a pleasure to be considered and acknowledged for my music and my charity work, both of which I love. Peace and love. Ringo."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, News