5 celebs who have given the Royal Honours List the cold shoulder
As King Charles unveils the 2025 Honours List—complete with OBEs, MBEs, and a sprinkling of knighthoods, another tradition quietly continues to flourish: the noble art of saying 'no, thanks.'
From beloved musicians to culinary icons, a surprising number of big names are choosing to pass on palace invites, proving once again that while a shiny medal might dazzle, not everyone's keen to curtsy.
Among the lengthy list of polite refusers? A few Irish names, naturally. Because of course there are. Always a gentle reminder that the neighbourly awkwardness is alive and well. As King Charles unveils the 2025 Honours List—complete with OBEs, MBEs, and a sprinkling of knighthoods—another tradition quietly continues to flourish: the noble art of saying 'no, thanks.' Pic: PA John Cleese. Pic:The Monty Python and Fawlty Towers actor famously rejected a CBE in 1996, branding the whole experience as 'silly.'
Three years on, he was once again turned yet another honour, with then-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown offered him a peerage.
Explaining his choice to the Sunday Telegraph in 2011, Cleese explained: 'Paddy was going to offer me one when he ceased to be leader of the Lib Dems, for political services – not because I was such a wonderful human being, and because I'd helped them [the Lib Dems] a lot.
'But I realised this involved being in England in the winter and I thought that was too much of a price to pay.' Classic Cleese! Barry McGuigan. Pic: James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock
Monaghan-born boxer McGuigan originally refused an MBE in 1986, however he did later accept the honour some years on.
The Irish sports star accepted the award in 1994 for his services to boxing.
While McGuigan may consider himself Irish, he became a UK citizen early in his career so that he could compete for British titles as well as Irish ones. Nigella Lawson. Pic: Scott McNaughton/The Age via Getty Images
The beloved TV chef turned down the honour of an OBE in 2001, stating that her culinary success didn't warrant such acclaim.
At the time, Lawson said: 'I'm not saving lives and I'm not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.'
You know what? We rate a self-aware, modest queen. Keep on cooking Nigella! Annie Mac. Pic: Dan Reid/REX/Shutterstock
Irish DJ, podcaster and author Annie Macmanus said she was offered an honorary MBE 'for services to radio' in 2022, quickly taking to the internet to see what other Irish nationals had done in her position.
Macmanus received an email from the British foreign office gauging her interest prior to making an official offer, however the star decided to politely turn it down after a discussion with her friends and family.
She later spoke out on the concept of the 'empire' and how she believes the whole idea of the monarchy is absurd. David Bowie. Pic: Theo Wargo/WireImage
Not once, but twice, did Bowie turn down the offer of royal honours.
The musical icon first turned down a CBE in 2000 and then refused a knighthood in 2003.
At the time, he said: '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.'
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