World Cup Glory Could Bring Honorary Knighthood for Tuchel
If England finally win the World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, fans and pundits alike would likely demand that the German manager is appropriately rewarded for ending years of hurt. Calls for him to receive a knighthood, following the precedent set by Sir Alf Ramsey in 1966, would grow loud if football indeed comes home.
Foreign Nationals Can Receive Honorary Knighthoods
While foreign nationals can receive knighthoods from the British monarch, they face slightly different regulations. Because he is not a UK or Commonwealth citizen, Tuchel's potential knighthood would officially be classed as an honorary award. Unlike British citizens, foreign recipients cannot style themselves using traditional royal titles, meaning the ex-Chelsea manager would not be officially referred to as 'Sir Thomas' by the public or media.
Post-Nominal Letters and Ceremonial Differences
Despite missing out on the famous prefix, honorary recipients are entitled to use the relevant initials after their name. For example, he could legally sign his name as Thomas Tuchel KBE if awarded the Knight Commander of the British Empire. The traditional investiture ceremony also looks quite different: honorary knights are typically not required to kneel and do not receive the ceremonial dubbing with a sword. Another major difference is that foreign recipients are not required to swear an oath of allegiance, as their primary loyalty is legally tied to their home nation.
Famous Foreign Precedents
There is a long history of prominent non-British citizens receiving this type of honorary recognition. Well-known examples include American icons like Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates, who both hold KBEs but cannot use the title.
