Rod Stewart was given a knighthood yesterday (11 October) following the recognition for his contributions to music and charity, and will now be known as Sir Roderick David Stewart.

The 71-year-old ‘Maggie May’ singer joined the likes of Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mick Jagger and Tom Jones when he was honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list. Cliff Richard was the first rock star to receive a knighthood in 1995 for service to music and charity.

Stewart told the BBC “We talked about music and he said: ‘It’s great that you’re still going’, and I said: ‘I have to – I’ve got eight children! He congratulated me on my long career – and I said how happy this made me. I just wish my mum and dad had been here to see it.”

Sir Rod has been in the music industry for 55 years, releasing six consecutive number one albums in the UK and out of a total of 62 UK hit singles, 31 reached the top ten, with 6 hitting number one. His most famous hit ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?’ (1978) stayed at number 1 for four weeks. Stewart wore tartan trousers and a “scarlet-trimmed military-style tunic” to the event and was accompanied by his wife, Penny Lancaster, and their young sons Alastair and Aiden.

Wife Penny spoke on the panel show ‘Loose Women’ and said their two sons, Alistair and Aiden, couldn’t believe they got to go to Buckingham Palace to see their father being honoured by Prince William. “The boys were hanging onto him for dear life afterwards. They were so proud” she said.

Congratulations Sir @RodStewart, honoured by The Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace today for services to music and charity pic.twitter.com/hHXhLHkiOR — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 11, 2016

Sir Rod also commented “I’ve led a wonderful life and have had a tremendous career thanks to the generous support of the great British public. This monumental honour has topped it off and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

“I thank Her Majesty and promise to wear it well.”