The 2016 Nobel Laureate winner, Bob Dylan has accepted the award but won’t be able attend the December 10 award ceremony “due to pre-existing commitments,” the Swedish Academy said Wednesday.

According to a statement by the Academy, the rock legend wrote a letter

saying that, “due to pre-existing commitments, he is unable to travel to Stockholm in December.”

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

“This means that he accepts the prize, but will not receive it from the hands of the king,” Permanent Secretary Sara Danius told Swedish Radio.

The award which is worth $930,000, also has a diploma and medal attached to it.

Dylan had been silent about his acceptance of the award until October 28 when he was “speechless”.

Azeez