Arise 'Sir Bill': Gates gets honorary knighthood

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is to receive an honorary knighthood from the Queen in recognition of his contribution to enterprise, employment and charities in the UK.

Gates will be invited to attend a ceremony at Buckingham Palace where Elizabeth 2.0 will install the upgrade.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a statement: "I am delighted that Bill Gates has been awarded this honour. He is one of the most important global business leaders of this age. Microsoft technology has transformed business practices and his company has had a profound impact on the British economy, employing 2,000 people and contributing to the development of the IT sector."

However, such plaudits may be lost on a number of Gates' many detractors. Indeed, some may question the wisdom of awarding such an honour while Microsoft is under investigation by the EU for anticompetitive business practices.

Asked whether there may be a conflict of interest between the award and the Brussels investigation, a government spokeswoman said: "We do not want to comment on investigations which are going on with the EU. We have honoured [Gates] for the work he has done here for UK businesses and for the UK."

But while the Microsoft business model still courts controversy, there is no denying the contribution Gates has made to a number of worthy causes.

Straw added: "In 2000, the Gates Foundation announced the biggest international educational scholarship programme ever established in the UK. With an estimated worth of $210m, it allows 230 students to study at Cambridge University. In addition, his international development work makes the Gates Foundation one of the leading philanthropic organisations of the modern age."

The awarding of the honour coincides with Gates visiting the UK as keynote speaker at the international 'Advancing Enterprise' conference, chaired by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster.

However, as Gates is not a UK or Commonwealth citizen, he won't be able to use the title 'Sir Bill'.

silicon.com will be reporting from the 'Advancing Enterprise' conference later today after Gates' keynote.