King Charles' Birthday Honours List for 2025 - David Beckham to Elaine Paige
The King's Birthday Honours List for 2025 is here!The King Charles’ Birthday Honours List of 2025 has been revealed ahead of Trooping the Colour today (Saturday, June 14).
Honours typically celebrate the contribution of celebrities, government employees and ordinary people who have served their communities. The King’s Birthday Honours list is released twice a year, at New Year and on Charles’ official birthday in June – Trooping the Colour.
The monarch hands out OBEs for services, and gives out knighthoods and damehoods to celebrate those individuals.
What are the different types of honours in the King’s Birthday Honours List?
A CBE, OBE and MBE are among the top-ranking honours – with GBE being at the very top, but these are rare.
First, there are MBEs (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) which is an order of chivalry, made up of five classes for civil and military divisions. The most senior of the two make the individual either a knight or dame. Next, are OBEs (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) and CBEs (Commander of the order of the British Empire). While CBEs are a great honour, they do not receive the title of Dame or Sir. The top rank, GBE, is a Knight or Dame Grand Cross. But they are rare, and only 16 have been given out in the past 25 years.
Only British citizens can become a Sir or a Dame. But those from overseas can be given an honorary KBE/DBE.
Those selected will attend a ceremony where King Charles, or another member of the royal family, award them with their insignia of the order (a medal).
Then there is the King’s Civilian Gallantry List, and 2024 was the first year Charles handed out commendation for Bravery as part of his Birthday Honours list.
Individuals can become nominated by the Prime Minister, senior government ministers and civilians who recommend people for an award.
Read more: Inside King Charles’ ‘plan’ for a modern monarchy and what that looks like for the royal family
Famous faces receiving an award this year
Last week, ahead of King Charles’ Birthday Honours List, reports claimed that David Beckham and his wife Victoria would receive honours in the 2025 ceremony.
It was reported the British footballer would receive a knighthood, and take the title of Sir. Meanwhile, Victoria would take the name Lady Beckham.
The Beckhams have a close relationship with the royal family, and David received an OBE in 2003.
David said of his new honour: “Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour. It will take a little while for the news to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”
His honour is for his services to sport and charity.
Meanwhile, the other famous face receiving a knighthood is former rugby league player Billy Boston for his services to rugby league football.
Actor Gary Oldman has also received a knighthood for services to drama.
In addition, singer and actress Elaine Paige and Regeneration novelist Pat Barker will receive damehoods.
Elsewhere, tennis legend Virginia Wade will receive a CBE for services to tennis and charity.
Other famous faces in the list include darts player Luke Littler, 18, for his services to darts. He’s been awarded an MBE.
Premier League Darts champion Luke Humphries has received an MBE for services to darts.
Hosts of BBC entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have also received honours – MBEs.
UK Love Island star Georgia Harrison has received an MBE for services to tackling online privacy and cyber crime awareness.
King Charles’ Birthday Honours List 2025 in full
Overall, 1,200 people have made the main honours list issued by the Cabinet Office.
You can see the full list of honours here.
Read more: Inside King Charles’ cancer battle – Palace health updates to how royals reacted to the news
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