Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will bestow an honorary knighthood on Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
The Foreign Office in London announced Monday that the business executive, believed to be the world's richest man, will become an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an honor reserved for non-Britons.
The Foreign Office said Britain wanted to recognize what it called Mr. Gates' outstanding contribution to enterprise, employment and volunteerism in the United Kingdom. His efforts to fight world poverty were also mentioned.
A Gates spokesman said the Microsoft chief is delighted with the honor.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.