The release of the New Year's and Birthday Honours lists is a moment of national recognition, celebrating individuals from all walks of life for their service and achievements. Yet, behind the scenes, a significant number of people, including some of the UK's most beloved celebrities, have chosen to decline the offer of a title such as a knighthood, damehood, or OBE.
While refusals were once kept confidential, it's now more common for public figures to openly discuss their decisions. Official data shows that between 1951 and 1999, 277 people declined an honour. The process involves potential recipients being contacted weeks in advance to confirm their acceptance, aiming to avoid public embarrassment.
High-Profile Refusals and Their Reasons
Many celebrities have turned down honours for deeply held personal or political beliefs. The legendary musician David Bowie was unequivocal, stating he "would never have any intention of accepting anything like that" and that it wasn't what he "spent my life working for."
Similarly, the poet Benjamin Zephaniah publicly rejected an OBE in 2003, explaining that the word 'empire' reminded him of slavery and brutality. He described himself as "profoundly anti-empire."
For some, the decision was about not taking individual credit. Film director Danny Boyle declined an honour for his work on the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, feeling it "was wrong" to accept personal accolades for a collective effort involving thousands.
Others felt their work didn't merit state recognition. Comediennes Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders turned down OBEs in 2001, with Saunders later saying they were "paid very well to have a lot of fun" and didn't deserve to stand alongside those devoted to worthy causes. Chef Nigella Lawson echoed this in 2001, remarking she wasn't "saving lives."
The Honours That Were Returned
Several figures initially accepted an award only to hand it back later, often as a political protest. John Lennon returned his MBE in 1969 in protest against Britain's foreign policy, notably its involvement in Nigeria and Vietnam.
In a more recent and notable case, actor Michael Sheen returned his OBE in 2017. He revealed that after researching Welsh history, he felt he had to choose between keeping the honour or being true to his conclusions, ultimately deciding to give it back.
Welsh trade unionist Huw T Edwards also renounced an MBE he had previously accepted, later refusing a knighthood on multiple occasions due to his discomfort with the honours system.
A Wide Spectrum of Objections
The reasons for refusal are as varied as the individuals themselves. For some, it's a rejection of the establishment. Film director Ken Loach called the OBE a club of "villains" in 2001, citing its links to patronage and the British Empire. Actor Jim Broadbent declined an OBE in 2002, preferring actors to remain "vagabonds and rogues" outside the establishment.
For others, it was a matter of principle against the monarchy. Bond actress Honor Blackman, a supporter of the Republic campaign, turned down a CBE in 2002. Sex Pistols singer John Lydon, whose band released 'God Save the Queen', predictably rejected an MBE.
Sometimes, the reasons remain private. Celebrated children's author Roald Dahl declined a knighthood in 1986, while actor Alan Rickman is believed to have turned down a CBE without ever publicly stating why.
The list extends across decades and professions, including painter LS Lowry, who rejected multiple honours; physicist Stephen Hawking, who reportedly refused a knighthood over science funding; and former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, who simply felt he didn't deserve one.
A Persistent Feature of the System
These refusals highlight a persistent, if less publicised, aspect of the UK's honours tradition. They underscore that for a notable minority, the highest forms of state recognition clash with personal identity, political conscience, or a belief in collective over individual achievement. As the lists continue to be announced each year, the polite but firm 'no thank you' from certain quarters remains a powerful statement in its own right.
