U2 frontman received the honor of being knighted at a Dublin ceremony Thursday. Because he isn't a British citizen, the customary title of "sir" doesn't come with it.

The actual title that was bestowed on Bono is Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or KBE.

During the event, a letter by British Prime Minister Tony Blair was read, praising the singer's activism. "I'll leave it to others far more knowledgeable than me to talk about U2's music," Blair wrote, according to the BBC. "All I'll say is that, along with millions of others right across the world, I'm a huge fan."

Bono also addressed the criticism – especially from Irish nationalists – that he would accept the British honor. "It has been a great year for this award to happen in," Bono said, adding, "And it does feel like this country and Great Britain are closer than they have ever been."

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