When does the Queen decide to knight someone, using sword and tapping on shoulders ?
She doesn't use the sword on clergymen or foreigners. Only people who are knighted by being tapped on each shoulder are called Sir. Their wives are called Lady. I worked for a knight - you called him Sir upon first meeting and then were invited to call him by his first name only. Always looked good on the cv. Elton John is a knight, but he is not royalty. David Furnish receives no title despite being married to Sir Elton. Note people like Reg Dwight, Harry Webb and Maurice Micklethwaite have received their knighthoods under their stage names, the last being Michael Caine. Not a lot of people know that. Americans receive honorary knighthoods but don't use the title Sir. Burly Chassis, I mean Shirley Bassey is a dame because she was given the honour by the queen, presumably for singing and putting Tiger Bay on the map. I saw her singing in Pizza on the Park all those years ago, funny how things turn out. Australians and New Zealanders can be made dames eg Dames Nellie Melba, Joan Sutherland and Kiri Te Kanawa. The only dame Edith I know is Edith Evans (famously Lady Bracknell - delivering the line " A Handbag!!!") possibly you mean the megastar of Moonie Ponds - the very fictional and totally self-styled Dame Edna Everage.
Why does the queen use a sword when giving a title in UK?
As the current English monarch, it’s her responsibility to “dub” prospective knights, and she’s replicating an ancient ceremony. Though I’m not sure where the term “dub” originates, the ceremony involves a symbolic submission of a knight to a lord, including ritualized sword hits. On his knees, the prospective knight accepts hits from his liege, signifying his obeisance.The movie Kingdom of Heaven gives a perhaps more fanciful, rougher, but more pointed version of the oath ceremony.Kingdom of Heaven (1/5) Movie CLIP - Knight's Oath (2005) HD
What is the history behind the sword used in the knighthood ceremony in England?
It started back in 10th century when real Norman knights were created by the King to serve as personal retinue. Many ceremonies took place including the dubbing with the Kings own sword whilst the knight knelt humbly . It was made more famous by Edward the 111 in 1348 the start of the Knights garter which was a band of loyal followers off to fight in france.The ceremony with a sword shows submission to a greater power ie the crown and that if necessary you will die for your King. It was a reserved as marshal honour for years up to 16th century then became a civic honour.