King Charles III’s birthday honours celebrate icons of sport, arts, public service

Former England football captain David Beckham, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and legendary musician Roger Daltrey have been awarded knighthoods in King Charles III’s official birthday honours list, released late on June 13.

The honours, bestowed twice a year to celebrate public service and achievement, also included damehoods for singer Elaine Paige, acclaimed novelist Pat Barker and former government minister Penny Mordaunt, Caliber.Az reports via the Washington Times.

Beckham, 50, was recognised for his services to sport and charity. A former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, Beckham captained the England national team 59 times during his 115 appearances and played a key role in bringing the 2012 Olympic Games to London. Off the field, he has partnered with UNICEF for two decades and supported global health initiatives, including anti-malaria campaigns.

“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,” Beckham said.

Oldman, 67, was honoured for his contributions to drama. Best known for his Oscar-winning role as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017), he recently earned praise for his role in Apple TV’s espionage series Slow Horses.

Daltrey, 81, frontman of The Who, received his knighthood for services to music and charity. As a long-time patron of Teenage Cancer Trust, he helped launch a concert series at the Royal Albert Hall that has raised millions for young cancer patients.

Paige, 77, famed for her musical theatre performances, was recognised for both her artistic achievements and charitable work, including roles in organisations supporting brain injury rehabilitation and disabled tennis players.

Barker, 82, winner of the Booker Prize and author of The Regeneration Trilogy, expressed surprise upon receiving her damehood, initially mistaking the formal letter for a notice from tax authorities. “I still sort of had to read the first paragraph several times before it sank in,” she said.

Mordaunt, 52, a former Conservative lawmaker, was honoured a year after losing her parliamentary seat. Her profile rose significantly during the king’s coronation in 2023, where she became the first woman to carry the Sword of State.

The honours list included over 1,200 recipients, with women making up 48% and 11% coming from ethnic minority backgrounds. The oldest recipient was 106-year-old WWII veteran William Irwin, awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community. The youngest was 11-year-old disability rights campaigner Carmela Chillery-Watson, who became the youngest ever MBE recipient for her fundraising efforts for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

Sculptor Antony Gormley, previously knighted in 2014, was elevated to Companion of Honour, one of Britain’s most prestigious awards. The title is limited to just 65 living members and recognises long-term contributions to the arts, sciences, or public service. Other current Companions include David Attenborough, Margaret Atwood, and Sebastian Coe.

In a historic first, three members of the same family — Jenna Speirs and her parents Caroline and Duncan — were all awarded the British Empire Medal for founding the children’s cancer charity Calum’s Cabin.

Several honourees were recognised for campaigning against knife crime, including Pooja Kanda, whose son was murdered with a ninja sword, and Alison Madgin, who received an MBE alongside her daughter Carly Barrett in memory of her daughter Samantha, who was fatally stabbed at age 18.

The honours are selected by civil servant committees based on nominations from both the public and government, and are typically presented by the monarch or a senior royal at Buckingham Palace.

By Sabina Mammadli