Lennon's MBE unearthed

Fans of John Lennon are calling for his MBE to put on display, forty years after he famously sent it back to the Queen.

The rock legend returned the honour in 1969, in protest at the government's supposed support of the war in Vietnam.

All four members of the band had been rewarded four years earlier for their services to music, at the height of Beatlemania.

It has now been unearthed in its original presentation case with letter, at the Chancery Department of the Royal Household in St James' Palace.

The attached note reads: "Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon."



A spokesman for Buckingham Palace told a UK newspaper that the honour could go on display only when it has been officially verified.

"John Lennon's MBE is being taken good care of and is in storage at the Central Chancery, St James' Palace", they explained.

"It has been retained since the day Mr Lennon returned it, but in order to decide whether the medal could go on display in a museum, we would have to establish ownership first.

"It could be up to Yoko Ono as she is the custodian of John Lennon's estate", the spokesperson concluded.