Michael Jackson wanted the Queen to knight him for being 'the biggest star in the world', claims former bodyguard Matt Fiddes
According to Matt Fiddes, the late 'King of Pop' was miffed about not being granted knighthood by the Queen. Fiddes, who protected Michael Jackson for the final 10 years of his life, has said that the pop star would often say: "I'm the biggest star in the world, why aren't I 'Sir' Michael Jackson?"
The pop star believed that his bond with Princess Diana would help him get the coveted title. The princess and the pop star wrote several letters to the Queen, asking that he be considered for the honor but were ignored. Jackson, allegedly, also approached a senior Labour politician who offered to help him attain the knighthood. But, after the meeting, the politician acted more like a "starstruck fan" and "harassed" the star for months, according to Fiddes, and begged permission to visit the icon in his famous (and infamous) Neverland Ranch, California.
Jackson was also jealous of other American celebrities such as Hollywood director Steven Spielberg and comedian Bob Hope who had been given honorary knighthoods. According to Fiddes, Jackson said, "Steven Spielberg was made a 'Sir', so it’s obviously not just a British thing." Other musicians like Elton John and Paul McCartney have also been knighted for their contribution to the arts.
In another interview to the Daily Star, Fiddes claimed Jackson had been in love with Princess Diana and wanted to marry her. "Michael told me he loved her, and he was in love with her, and he wanted to marry her. He told me she was his ideal wife," he said.
"He felt she was the only person in the world who could understand his life in terms not being able to go anywhere... The intrusion into the private life, having no privacy whatsoever, the children being hounded. He felt an immediate bond with her as soon as they met. They were both very shy individuals and he loved her, he wanted to marry her, truth be told," the bodyguard said, remembering conversations with his former boss.