BISHOP Kenneth has been given one of the highest honours that can be given by the Queen of Denmark.

Bishop Kenneth receives the honour from the Danish Ambassador to the UK, Tom Risdahl Jensen

The bishop, who is three-quarters Danish, became a Knight Commander of the Order of Dannebrog – the oldest order of chivalry in the world, which was founded in 1219.
 
Knight Commander is one of the highest honours that can be given to a Dane. Bishop Kenneth’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather all received honours in the Order of the Dannebrog.
 
The bishop, who is being treated for leukaemia, came out of hospital temporarily to receive the award at his Fareham home. The Danish Ambassador to the UK, Tom Risdahl Jensen, presented the award to Kenneth on behalf of the Queen for his contribution to Anglo-Danish relations.
 
The award consists of a gold cross and crown on a ribbon that is worn around the neck. The bishop has also been given a lapel badge to pin onto a suit or his preaching scarf.
 
“This is rarely given to non-Danes and rarely to those living outside Denmark, but I think they are proud to have a part-Dane as a serving Church of England bishop,” he said. “I was speechless when the ambassador announced I was going to be a Knight Commander. It’s a real honour and privilege to have received it.”
 
Mr Jensen said: “For decades, you have been the most prominent Dane in this country. I’m often asked whether there are still Vikings in this country. Well, we do have one!
 
“You have been a prominent figure in the House of Lords, and you have done a fine job in the bilateral co-operation between the Anglican church and the Lutheran churches of Europe.”
 
The bishop has been through two courses of chemotherapy over the summer after his leukaemia returned in June. Both sets of treatment involved stronger doses of chemotherapy than before. He is likely to need a bone marrow transplant during the autumn, which means he is unlikely to return to work in the immediate future.
 
“It’s very difficult to be specific about the timescale because things take longer with the regime I’m under,” said Kenneth. “This chemotherapy has been much more fierce than before, although I’ve still not lost my hair!
 
“Although my relapse has obviously been a disappointment, I would rather it happened now than in three years’ time, or later, as the transplant option would be ruled out on grounds of age. But I want to assure you all that I am in good heart, and both Sarah and I continue to be buoyed up by people’s cards and prayers.”
 
Kenneth was originally diagnosed with leukaemia 12 months ago and went through four courses of chemotherapy before returning to work just before Easter. Although the disease was “in remission”, there was always a chance that it could return.