Bob Dylan will not be attending the Nobel Prize ceremony, the Swedish Academy has confirmed.

The Academy received a personal letter from the singer, saying that due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to make the trip to Stockholm in December to attend the ceremony.

Bob DylanBob Dylan will not be attending the Nobel Prize ceremony

In an announcement the Academy said: “Yesterday evening the Swedish Academy received a personal letter from Bob Dylan, in which he explained that due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to travel to Stockholm in December and therefore will not attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony.

“He underscored, once again, that he feels very honoured indeed, wishing that he could receive the prize in person.”

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“That laureates decide not to come is unusual, to be sure, but not exceptional. In the recent past, several laureates have, for various reasons, been unable to come to Stockholm to receive the prize, among them Doris Lessing, Harold Pinter, and Elfriede Jelinek. The prize still belongs to them, just as it belongs to Bob Dylan.”

They added that they “look forward” to Dylan’s Nobel Lecture, which he is required to give, within six months counting from December 10, 2016.

After Dylan was announced as this year’s recipient the singer took two weeks to respond.

More: Nobel Member Brands Bob Dylan 'Impolite And Arrogant'

He later phoned the Academy’s Permanent Secretary Sara Danius and told her: “The news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless. I appreciate the honor so much.” 

Shortly after, in an interview with The Telegraph, when asked if he planned to turn up to the awards ceremony in Stockholm Dylan answered, “Absolutely. If it’s at all possible.”