Rarotonga, Cook Islands Knighthood of Sir Albert Henry by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, Photograph by Bill Johnson - Copyrighted

28th January 1974. Albert Henry receiving his KBE from H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in Rarotonga. Photographer Bill Johnson. I was the Official Cook Islands Government Photographer For The Royal Visit to Rarotonga. The New Zealand National Film Unit and myself were the only (2) Two Photographer's allowed in for the private investiture of The Knighthood of Sir Albert Royal Henry KBE. ** I was the only photographer/person who actually photographed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II doing the dubbing with the 'sword'. Her Majesty uses the sword that belonged to her father, King George VI, to dubbing i.e. The Knighthood. The New Zealand National Film Unit missed it. Sir Albert was so very greatful and personally thanked me many a time. This photo shows Sir Albert who has just received his Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, K.B.E.
A knighthood (or a damehood, its female equivalent) is one of the Highest Honours an individual in the United Kingdom can achieve. The Knighthood used to be awarded solely for military merit, today it recognises significant contributions to national life. A Knighthood cannot be bought and it carries no military obligations to the Sovereign. In ceremony of knighting, the knight-elect kneels on a knighting-stool in front of The Queen, who then lays the sword blade on the knight's right and then left shoulder.

After he has been dubbed, the new Knight stands up, and The Queen invests the knight with the insignia of the Order to which he has been appointed and in this case it was a KBE.
I would like to add:- I was at the main gates of Buckingham Palace when Princess Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were on their way to the Coronation at Westminster Abbey in the Royal Coach, June 1953. I got a very good close up look at the two of them however, who would ever have guessed or known... that twenty-one years later, I would be in the same room with the Her Majesty and standing only a few feet away photographing the Queen performing this KBE Knighthood.