All the celebrities who refused or returned honours from the Royal Family

Becoming a Sir or Dame is a bucket list dream for many A-list celebrities, many of whom have proudly flocked to Royal palaces to receive their medals from the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III or Prince William. 

The New Year Honours list for 2026 is set to take place soon, with the likes of Idris Elba, Matt Lucas, and Ellie Goulding receiving accolades.

Ice skating duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are set to receive OBEs for their services to ice skating and voluntary service. Paul Elliott, one half of the Chuckle Brothers, will be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

However, not every star is rushing through the gates of Buckingham Palace to claim their honour. 

Throughout the years, several celebrities have turned down the esteemed honours offered to them, and for several reasons.

Whether they felt as though they didn’t deserve the honours, or because they held anti-monarchist beliefs, several big showbiz names have said ‘No’ when presented with the Queen’s or King’s birthday honours.

Alan Cumming

Alan Cumming received an OBE in 2009, saying he was ‘incredibly grateful’ to be honoured for services to acting and the work he does for LGBT rights in the US.

But 14 years later, in early 2023, Alan announced he would be handing his honour back, saying he had ‘opened his eyes’ to the ‘toxicity’ of the British Empire.

He said in a statement: ‘I was incredibly grateful to receive it in the 2009 Queen’s birthday honours list, for it was awarded not just for my job as an actor but for activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community, USA.’

But, he added: ‘The Queen’s death and the ensuing conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes.’

‘So I returned my award, explained my reasons and reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place. I’m now back to being plain old Alan Cumming again.’

Michael Sheen

Much like Alan Cumming, Michael Sheen was also awarded an OBE in 2009. However, he too gave his OBE back after consideration in later years.

At the time, Michael said that he believed his home nation of Wales should be independent from the United Kingdom and that he disagreed with Prince William being made the Prince of Wales.

He told political writer and pundit Owen Jones: ‘I [researched] a lot about Welsh history. I’m still standing at the foothills of an understanding of all that, but that was a crash course.

‘I remember sitting there going, “Well, I have a choice. I either don’t give this lecture and hold on to my OBE, or I give this lecture, and I have to give my OBE back.” I wanted to still give the lecture, so I gave my OBE back.’

He insisted that handing the award back hadn’t meant to be rude or disrespectful and that he was ‘incredibly honoured’ to have received his OBE in the first place.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders

Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders were both offered OBEs in 2001 for their services to comedy and drama.

However, the pair turned the honours down, with Jennifer later explaining: ‘If I felt I deserved a damehood I’d accept it. At the time, we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn’t seem right somehow.’

She continued: ‘We didn’t deserve a pat on the back. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes.’

David Bowie

Before his death in 2016, David Bowie turned down not one but two honours from the Queen – first a CBE in 2000, then a knighthood in 2003.

Speaking to The Sun in the aftermath, he told them: ‘I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. 

He also spoke about Sir Mick Jagger accepting a knighthood: ‘It’s not what I spent my life working for. It’s not my place to make a judgment on [Mick] Jagger, it’s his decision. But it’s just not for me.’

Living in the USA at the time, Bowie chose not to express his views on the monarchy.

George Harrison

In 1997, George Harrison’s fellow Beatles bandmate Sir Paul McCartney accepted a knighthood, while Harrison rejected an OBE he was given.

Harrison died a year later from complications with cancer at the age of 58. In 2018, Sir Ringo Starr accepted his knighthood, becoming the second Beatle to receive such an honour.

Ray Connolly, a journalist who knew The Beatles at points during their career, told the Mail: ‘Whoever decided to offer [Harrison] the OBE and not the knighthood was extraordinarily insensitive. He would have felt insulted.’

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson has spent years endearing herself to the public thanks to her brilliant recipes and her brilliant pronunciation of the word ‘microwave’.

However, she wasn’t interested in accepting an OBE in 2001, turning down the offer and giving an explanation similar to Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.

She said at the time: ‘I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.’

Danny Boyle

Danny Boyle turned down an award for his role in the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

He said he felt it ‘was wrong’ for him to take credit for a collective effort, the ceremony was the result of the hard work of thousands of people.

‘You can make these speeches about: “This is everybody’s work, blah blah blah.” And you’ve got to mean it, and I did mean it, and it is true, and it’s the only way you can carry on something like that: through the efforts of all the people. I don’t know whether I’ll ever get invited back to the palace,’ he told Radio Time

Livia Giuggioli 

Colin Firth’s ex-wife, Livia Giuggioli (Firth), has dramatically handed back her MBE because of Britain’s ‘appeasement’ of US President Donald Trump.

The businesswoman, who co-founded the sustainability consultancy Eco-Age and created the Green Carpet Fashion Award, received the award for her work to improve conditions for garment workers around the globe.

Earlier this year, the 56-year-old Italian activist has shared a video of herself officially handing back her Member of the Order of the British Empire and tearing up her certificate for her services to sustainable fashion.

This story was first published on June 15, 2024. 

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