Celebrities Taking a Stand: Stars Who Turned Down Royal Honours
From Hollywood icons to beloved authors, numerous celebrities have made headlines for rejecting royal honours from Buckingham Palace, a decision reflecting their values and personal beliefs.
Notably, Scottish actor Alan Cumming returned his OBE in January 2023, expressing "misgivings" about linking himself to the "toxicity" of the British Empire. He initially felt honored by the award in 2009 but changed his perspective following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, prompting him to consider Britain’s colonial history.
Welsh actor Michael Sheen also handed back his OBE in 2017 to avoid being a "hypocrite," feeling his public stance against the monarchy conflicted with his award. Researching Welsh history led him to reassess the significance and implications of such honours.
John Lennon famously returned his MBE in 1969 as a protest against Britain’s military actions abroad, reinforcing a commitment to peace over recognition. Similarly, David Bowie declined both a CBE and a knighthood, stating he never aspired to accolades, reflecting his artistic priorities.
Comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders turned down their OBEs in 2001, believing they hadn’t done enough compared to those in public service. Author Roald Dahl also rejected an OBE in 1986, feeling it didn’t match his literary contributions, while Alfred Hitchcock turned down a CBE, believing it fell short of recognizing his cinematic legacy.
Even scientists were not immune to royal rejection; theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking turned down a knighthood, voicing his discontent with the honours system itself.
These celebrity refusals highlight a growing disillusionment with royal accolades, emphasizing personal values over formal recognition in a rapidly changing cultural landscape.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
