London: Former British prime minister Gordon Brown may miss a chance to earn knighthood after his recent statement following his exit from the top post.
The ex-leader said he "loved the job" of prime minister, "not for its prestige, its titles and its ceremony”.
However, the speech has put officials, who were planning to make Brown a Knight of the Order of the Thistle, at Buckingham Palace in a fix, as the felicitation apparently would be an "insult" to the former Labour leader with such an honour.
"Brown may well come round to the idea. Other Labour prime ministers, such as Harold Wilson, couldn't wait for an honour," the Telegraph quoted Hugo Vickers, the author of Royal Orders, as saying.
Even though there is a vacancy in the Order of the Garter, Vickers feels Brown will be offered the Thistle.
He added: "If you are Scottish, it is in some ways more prestigious. Unfortunately, there are no vacancies for the Thistle at the moment, but the Queen doesn't like to rush these things."
Meanwhile, Brown has said he will continue as the MP for Kirkcaldy.
ANI
First Published: Sunday, May 16, 2010, 15:23