Paul McCartney returns to London ahead of MBE announcement 50 years ago tonight (June 11 1965)


Video: 'Paul McCartney & Jane Asher in a airport'

(Friday, June 11, 1965) — Paul McCartney returned to London this evening one day early from a two-week holiday in Portugal so all The Beatles could be in Britain on the day it was announced that they would be awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire.

The press embargo restricting publication of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list was lifted during the evening, to allow the next day’s newspapers to carry the news.