Queen to knight Governor-General

Queen Elizabeth will formally grant New Zealand's Governor-General the accolade of knighthood in London this week.

Following a visit to Turkey, Sir Anand Satyanand and his wife Susan, Lady Satyanand, will fly to London for the private ceremony at Buckingham Palace tomorrow at 1pm GMT (1am NZT Thursday).

The ceremony comes after the New Zealand Government decided to reinstate the titular honours in March.

As a part of those changes, the Queen approved his redesignation from a Principal Companion to a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Sir Anand said in a statement he looked forward to receiving the accolade from the Queen.

He will also this evening attend a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern Commonwealth of Nations.

In Turkey Sir Anand represent ed New Zealand at the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli.

- NZPA