Everest anniversary: Sherpa Tenzing Norgay should have been knighted too, says grandson The medal had also been awarded to air raid wardens during the Second World War and was later bestowed on members of the emergency services. Mr Tenzing, 49, said: "I think my grandfather should have been knighted. He was a member of the expedition, not just a Sherpa. They just gave him a bloody medal. Today's anniversary would provide a good opportunity for "a gesture from the Queen and the people of England to recognise that my grandfather was the man who took their flag to the summit," he argued. The lack of official recognition that Tenzing allegedly suffered has been attributed to prejudices in the British establishment at the time. Mountaineers past and present will join the sons of the first men to reach the summit at the signing of a newly-released book on the expedition today. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will tonight attend a reception to mark the anniversary at the Royal Geographical Society, where they will watch footage from the landmark achievement, view an exhibition, and meet families and guests. In a separate celebration, the anniversary will also be marked with the signing of a new book on the expedition, attended by key figures from the mountaineering world. Hillary and Norgay's sons, Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay, will be joined by celebrated mountaineers Sir Chris Bonington, Stephen Venables and Doug Scott, who have all contributed personal reflections to the newly-released The Conquest Of Everest - Original Photographs From The Legendary First Ascent.