By Joe Murphy, Political Editor (Filed: 14/10/2001)
RUDOLPH GIULIANI, the mayor of New York, is to be given an honorary knighthood for his leadership after the World Trade Centre tragedy.
The Queen will bestow the honour on him in recognition of the compassion he showed towards British victims of the terrorist attacks and his determination to get the city back on to its feet. The award was recommended to the Palace by Tony Blair.
As a mark of British esteem, she is expected to invite Mr Giuliani to Buckingham Palace to receive the honour, which will proclaim him a Knight Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
The mayor will not be allowed to call himself Sir Rudi, however, because he is not a British citizen. The knighthood ceremony for foreigners is less elaborate and the Queen will not touch the Sword of State to his shoulders, as she would with a Briton.
Mr Giuliani joins a prestigious list of Americans given honorary knighthoods, including Ronald Reagan, the former US president, Bob Hope, the British-born actor, Colin Powell, the Secretary of State and Gulf War leader, and Steven Spielberg, the film director, and Andre Previn, the composer and musician.
A Buckingham Palace official said: "The Queen believes that Rudolph Giuliani was an inspiration to political leaders around the world as well as to his city."
The official added: "She was grateful for his suport for Britons bereaved by the tragedy and feels that this will also be a gesture of solidarity between America and Britain. Her regard for Mayor Giuliani is reflected in her desire to present the honour in person at Buckingham Palace."
After the attacks, Republican Mr Giuliani, 57, won acclaim for voicing the spirit of New York and rallying its citizens.
He visited Ground Zero, the site of the collapsed towers, immediately, prompting favourable comparisons with President Bush who did not travel to the city until later, and took a lead in supporting firefighters and police who led the rescue attempts.
Mr Giuliani is legally obliged to retire at the end of this year having served the maximum term of eight years in the post. Although he is still riding a wave of popularity since the disaster, he is no longer seeking an extension to his mayoralty.
The Queen is also expected to give honours to Bernard Kerik, the police commissioner of New York, and Thomas Von Essen, the city's fire commissioner, probably in the New Year List.
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