Endless knights
From Mr Jeremy Taylor Sir: We are being told quite often that Sir Anthony Hopkins must give up his knight- hood when he becomes a US citizen ('Why I am proud to be a subject of the Queen', 6 May). This is odd, because California, Sir Anthony's future choice as home, was filled with theatrical knights in the Thirties, and they were very much known as Sir. Indeed, the title appeared before their name in the telephone book. I think of Sir Cedric (pro- nounced by Americans `Seadrick') Hard- wicke and Sir C. Aubrey Smith, among oth- ers. And what of the numerous Americans who served as US Ambassador to St James's, afterwards knighted by the Queen? One of these became immortal for his remarks to Her Majesty about the 'ele- ments of refurbishment' he had carried out at the Residence. Must these distinguished Yanks renounce the 'sir' when they return, poor things, to America?
Jeremy Taylor
La Orotava, Tenerife
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