What a late knight! Sir Andy picks up gong – after 2 years
IT is more than two years since his knighthood was announced. But yesterday Sir Andy Murray finally felt the tap of the royal sword on his shoulder.
The tennis star, who is recovering from hip surgery, knelt gingerly on a stool as Prince Charles conferred the honour in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Sir Andy, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Wednesday, was made a knight in the 2016 New Year Honours list. But the former Wimbledon champion’s schedule, at first due to tennis but then as a result of various medical procedures, delayed his date at the Palace.
Speaking after the investiture, Sir Andy, who was accompanied by wife Kim and mother Judy, said he wished his daughters Sophia Olivia, three, and Edie, 18 months, had been old enough to see him receive his knighthood. Sir Andy, who has won two Wimbledon singles titles, one US Open and two Olympic gold medals, said: ‘ I’m very proud to receive it. It’s a nice day to spend with my family – my wife and parents are here. I’d have liked to [have brought] my kids but I think they’re a bit young.
‘I’ll show them the medal when I get home.’
Judy Murray had earlier tweeted a picture of her son painted by Edinburgh artist Nial Smith. Taken from a work titled Slamalot, it shows Sir Andy as King Arthur, trying to pull a tennis racket from a stone. The former world No 1 has been battling a careerthreatening hip problem for a decade. After struggling during 2017, he had surgery last year but was still in pain.
He announced during a tearful press conference at the Australian Open in January
‘It’s a very proud day’
that he would retire after this year’s Wimbledon but then had a hip resurfacing operation.
He has begun rehabilitation work and training but it is unclear whether he will play at Wimbledon, although he has said he would do everything he could to keep playing.
Of the delay in Sir Andy receiving his knighthood, one royal insider said recipients are allowed to choose when to collect their honour.
They added: ‘Such delays are not uncommon – there have been similar problems for others to secure a firm date due to either health issues or work commitments. It really is not unusual for people to wait quite a period of time before attending an investiture.’