Theresa May’s husband knighted by Prince Charles for ‘political service’

Sir Philip May is the second male consort this country has ever had (Pictures: PA/Getty Images)

Philip May has been knighted for his political service to the country in supporting wife Theresa May while she was prime minister.

The pandemic has forced many people who have been honoured with national awards, such as knighthoods and MBEs, to wait months to be physically awarded by a member of the Royal Family.

Today, Sir Philip was officially knighted by Prince Charles after Boris Johnson recommended him to the Queen last year.

He is being celebrated for his service in 10 Downing Street, between 2016 and 2019, alongside his own successful career in the finance sector.

Sir Philip is the second male consort this country has ever had, after Sir Dennis Thatcher who was married to the first-ever female prime minister.

During Ms May’s Brexit negotiations, the former prime minister said it was her husband, Philip, who kept encouraging her to keep going and ‘keep doing the right thing’.

Sir Philip was also clearly an emotional support for his wife.

She infamously could not stop coughing during her speech at the Conservative Party Conference in 2017 and then a comedian handed her a P45, so Sir Philip stood up and hugged her in front of everyone.

Sir Philip, like many other people who were honoured by the Queen, has waited months to meet a member of the Royal Family (Picture: PA)

Sir Philip lived in Downing Street with Theresa May from2016 to 2019 (Picture: Getty Images)

Several other spouses of prime ministers have been awarded honours for their service to the country, including Cherie Blair CBE – married to Tony Blair.

Today also saw the Great British Bake Off star, Mary Berry, honoured, with Charles naming her Dame Commander for a lifetime of cooking, writing and baking.

This is the first time two investitures are being held on the same day – for ‘practical’ reasons, Buckingham Palace has said.

After the ceremony, Dame Mary said: ‘I’m extremely proud and honoured, I just wish my parents were here – they’re looking down and my children are quite excited.

‘My aim is to pass on the skill that I love so much, because everybody has to cook each day, whether it’s a student or whatever it is, you’ve got to feed yourself so why not learn to do it well and enjoy it.’

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