A knighthood is seen as one of the UK’s most coveted royal orders (Image: Getty)
A knighthood is seen as one of the UK’s most coveted royal orders, but not everyone dreams of receiving one.
The highest ranking Order of the British Empire level is a knighthood, while CBE, OBE, and MBE recognise contributions at varying levels.
When the monarch has approved to honor an individual, that person will be sent a formal letter which inquires whether they wish to accept the honor. The recipient then decides whether they would like to accept it or not.
While most decide to accept the honour, a number of celebrities have rejected it over the years. Meanwhile, those who have accepted the honour have gone on to return it in the years following.
From believing they didn’t deserve the title to learning about the “toxic” British Empire, these are the stars who have rejected or handed back their honours from the royal family.
John Lennon
John Lennon returned his MBE in 1969 (Image: Getty)
was awarded an MBE in 1965 alongside the three other members of The Beatles. However, Lennon famously returned his just four years later.
His bold move was detailed in an open letter to the Queen where he stated: “Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain’s involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against ‘Cold Turkey’ slipping down the charts.”
The letter was signed “With love, John Lennon,” in his handwriting.
Sir Derek Taylor, the Beatles’ spokesman, said that the other three Beatles did not know Lennon was intending to return his MBE until after the letters had been sent.
“They are not intending to return theirs as well,” he confirmed.
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Michael Sheen
Michael Sheen has been vocal in his critique of the UK Government and the Royal Family (Image: Getty)
Michael Sheen, a staunch Welsh patriot, has been vocal in his critique of the UK Government and the Royal Family. His decision to return his OBE in 2017 came after delving into Welsh history while preparing a lecture on Raymond Williams.
The actor said he relinquished the honour so he could explore the “tortured history” his native shares with the English and British states in the 2017 lecture without being a hypocrite.
He told The Guardian: “By the time I’d finished writing that lecture, 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’.”
He originally received the honour in 2009.
Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming was awarded an OBE for his “activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community” in the United States (Image: Getty)
Scottish actor Alan Cumming returned the OBE he was awarded in 2009 for his “activism for equal rights for the gay and lesbian community” in the United States.
The actor, 60, revealed that he had relinquished the esteemed accolade in January 2023. Cumming cited several reasons for his decision, including the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and a re-evaluation of how the British Empire profited at the expense of indigenous populations, which he said had “opened” his eyes.
In an announcement on , he wrote: “I returned my OBE. Fourteen years ago, 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’.”
The actor announced he was returning the OBE in 2023 (Image: Getty)
Cumming pointed out the historical context of his activism, noting: “Back then the Defence of Marriage Act ensured that same sex couples couldn’t get married or enjoy the same basic legal rights as straight people, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ensured that openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people were barred from serving in the military.
“(Incidentally both these policies were instituted by the Clinton administration).”
After explaining why he was returning the honour, he said: “Also, thankfully, times and laws in the US have changed, and the great good the award brought to the LGBTQ+ cause back in 2009 is now less potent than the misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of empire (OBE stands for Officer of the British Empire).
“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. Happy birthday to me!”
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Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French
Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French both turned down an OBE from The Queen in 2001 (Image: Getty)
Comedy partners Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French both turned down an OBE from The Queen in 2001.
Saunders, 66, declined the offer alongside French because it “didn’t feel right” after her own father Robert received a CBE for his work as a Royal Air Force pilot.
The Ab Fab star felt accepting the Queen’s offer “made a mockery” of being given such a prestigious honour, believing there were others who deserved it more.
“My father, Robert, was a pilot in the Royal Air Force and was awarded a CBE,” she told Best Magazine. “He got it and he deserved it.”
The actress continued: “He worked really hard and he was a brilliant man and he did an awful lot. But we just jumped up on stage, messed about, and made money.”
She added: “We thought, ”there’s a lot of people who deserve these things” and for us to get it sort of made it a mockery. There are people who work for the NHS or do great charity work and we hadn’t really done anything. It was silly.”
Nigella Lawson
Nigella Lawson turned down an OBE because she wasn’t “saving lives” (Image: Getty Images)
In 2001, celebrity chef was offered an OBE, a nod to her considerable influence on British cuisine.
Following the success of her first cookbook, How to Eat, and her subsequent British Book Award for Author of the Year for How to Be a Domestic Goddess in 2000, the Queen sought to honour her.
Despite this recognition, the 65-year-old turned down the OBE.
When questioned about her decision, the Wandsworth-born culinary icon remarked: “I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.”
David Bowie
Rock legend David Bowie was clear-cut about declining a knighthood, declaring: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”
Of Sir Mick Jagger’s knighthood, the late musician remarked: “It’s not my place to make a judgment on Jagger, it’s his decision. But it’s just not for me.”
He turned down the knighthood in 2003 and also rejected a CBE three years prior.
Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking declined a knighthood in the ’90s (Image: Getty Images)
Despite having already accepted a CBE in 1982, didn’t want to accept a knighthood.
It was reportedly the 1990s when the offer came in, but the late physicist refused the honour in protest against a lack of funding for science.
He also reportedly disliked the idea of titles in general.