Sir Quentin Blake, Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
Tuesday 11th March 2014
French Minister of Culture presents insignia at the Institut Français in London
Quentin was delighted to receive this honour from the French government, in recognition for his work in the fields of illustration and literature both in the UK and France. He had previously been awarded the insignia of 'Officier' (in 2007) and 'Chevalier' (in 2004) in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, but is now admitted to membership of the Legion. This is an honour which is very rarely given to anyone who is not a French national.
On behalf of the French government, Ministre Aurelie Filippetti presented the insignia amid a thunderous round of applause from the audience at the French Institute in South Kensington. At the same ceremony, Ms Filippetti also presented the insignia of 'Chevalier' of the Order of Arts and Letters to Dr Penelope Curtis, director of Tate Britain, and to Sir Jonathan Mills, outgoing Director of the Edinburgh Festival.
Links:
More photos of the ceremony and the other honorands are on Quentin's Facebook page
Footage of the presentation and Quentin's acceptance speech at the French Institute (by Culturetheque) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4hiVdhUChg
A pre-ceremony interview with Quentin, filmed by Culturetheque, in which he talks about his links with France and French illustrators. The second half of the interview is in French: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_kMASS8Hl0