Nearly two years after being snubbed from England's hallowed knighting ceremonies, London's Daily Mail says the original James Bond will be included in the Queen's New Year's Honors List this year, adding the auspicious title of "Sir" to his name.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has declined comment on the news, as has Connery's camp.
The Honors list is usually a closely guarded secret until its publication, but this year there have been several leaks.
According to reports, the 69-year-old Connery will be joined by Virgin mastermind Richard Branson and comedian Norman Wisdom as defenders of the crown, and BBC director John Birt will be made a life peer.
Connery, who won a supporting actor Oscar for 1987's The Untouchables, was purportedly denied the title two years ago for several reasons, most notably for his vocal and financial support of Scottish independence. Other reasons for the diss? Connery lives abroad to avoid hefty English taxation, and he once said it was acceptable at times for a man to slap a woman, the British press reports said at the time.
In 1998, Connery said he was "deeply disappointed but strangely not angry or greatly surprised" by the snub and called his comments about men slapping women "stupid."
Aside from that whole political and lady-slapping business, Connery's on-screen loyalty to England is impeccable. Along with his crown-bearing roles in 1995's First Knight and 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, he served Her Majesty's Secret Service in seven Bond films.
We folks on this side of the pond aren't nearly as fussy with our awards. In September, Connery was tapped as a prestigious Kennedy Center Honoree for his career achievements in the arts.