Folk icon Van Morrison has officially been made a Sir after receiving a knighthood from Prince Charles.
The veteran star was invited to Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday (local time), when he was honoured for his services to the music industry and for boosting tourism in his native Northern Ireland.
Speaking after the investiture ceremony, the 'Brown Eyed Girl' singer, who was accompanied to the prestigious event by his musician daughter Shana Morrison, admitted he was in awe of his latest accolade.
"For 53 years I've been in the business," he told reporters. "That's not bad for a blue-eyed soul singer from east Belfast!"
Recalling his brief exchange with Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, the 70-year-old said, "He was just saying, 'Was I still writing?' And he said, 'You're not going to retire any time soon?' And I said, 'No, I'm not, I'm going to keep it going while I can.'"
WENN
