King's Birthday Honours List 2026: Who Was Recognised and What Honours Mean Financially

2026 Birthday Honours - Key Recipients

The King's Birthday Honours List 2026 was published on 12 June, coinciding with Trooping the Colour on 13 June. Close to 1,200 individuals across the UK are recognised for outstanding contributions to sport, arts, public service, science, business and community work. The list spans all walks of life, from local volunteers to nationally recognised figures. Nominations are submitted by members of the public as well as government departments and businesses, and the committees that assess them give significant weight to grassroots community contributions alongside high-profile achievements.

Among the most prominent recipients this year, Kevin Sinfield receives a knighthood for his distinguished rugby league career and for his extraordinary charitable work in support of Motor Neurone Disease research. Sir Kevin has completed a series of extreme endurance challenges, raising tens of millions of pounds for MND charities following the illness and death of his close friend and former teammate Rob Burrow, who died from MND in 2024. His fundraising work has significantly raised public awareness of the disease and brought substantial resources to MND research programmes. Helen Mirren is elevated to Companion of Honour, a designation restricted to a maximum of 65 living members at any time and considered one of the most distinguished recognitions in the British honours system. Six members of England's Euro 2025 Championship-winning Lionesses squad receive MBEs, including Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, who played decisive roles in the final against Spain. England secured a second consecutive European title at Euro 2025, cementing a historic period for the women's game in England. Authors Malorie Blackman and Julia Donaldson also feature on the 2026 list.

How the UK Honours System Works

The UK honours system operates through two main annual lists: the New Year Honours published on 1 January and the Birthday Honours published each June. There is also a Dissolution Honours List when a Parliament ends, and occasional special lists for significant national events. The most commonly awarded honours are grades within the Order of the British Empire. From highest to lowest these are Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE). The Companion of Honour sits outside the OBE tier and is generally considered more prestigious than a CBE. Separate senior orders include the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle and the Order of Merit, all of which are limited to a small number of living members and reserved for the most exceptional cases. The vast majority of Birthday Honours recipients receive MBEs, OBEs or CBEs.

Nominations are submitted year-round by the public, by government departments and by businesses. Committees for each sector review submissions and pass recommendations to the Prime Minister, who advises the Monarch. The process from initial nomination to public announcement typically takes 12 to 24 months. Nominees are not informed until shortly before the list is published, and the process is conducted in strict confidence throughout.

Does an Honour Affect Tax or Benefits?

An honour itself carries no monetary value and is not taxable income. HMRC does not treat receipt of an OBE, MBE, knighthood or any other honour as a taxable benefit in kind. There is no financial transaction of any kind involved in receiving an honour - no cash payment, no asset transfer, no value that HMRC would assess. The medal or insignia presented at the investiture ceremony belongs to the recipient as a keepsake but has no assessed market value for tax purposes.

Some recipients see increased commercial opportunities following their honour, including higher speaking fees, board appointments, commercial partnerships or enhanced public profile. Any income arising from those opportunities is taxed in the normal way as earned income or self-employment income. The honour itself is not the source of the income - the subsequent commercial activity is what is taxed. Receipt of an honour has no effect on means-tested benefits, the State Pension, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or any other benefit entitlement. It is not a capital asset, carries no assessed cash value and does not appear in any benefit calculation.

Does a Knighthood Carry Financial Obligations?

A knighthood or damehood changes an individual's title and right of precedence in formal settings, but carries no specific financial obligations. There is no investiture fee, no annual subscription and no requirement to make any donation. In rare circumstances, membership of a senior order such as the Order of the Garter may involve obtaining ceremonial robes for chapter meetings, but these costs apply only to a handful of the most senior appointments and are entirely separate from the standard MBE, OBE, CBE or knighthood route that the vast majority of honours recipients follow.

The Investiture Process

Once the Honours List is published, recipients receive a formal letter from the Cabinet Office confirming the honour and asking whether they wish to accept. Those who accept are invited to an investiture ceremony, held at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle across several months following the announcement. Ceremonies are conducted by the King himself, or occasionally by senior members of the royal family on his behalf. Each recipient is called forward individually, the award is pinned or placed by the presenting royal, a short exchange takes place, and the recipient then returns to their seat. Recipients may bring up to three guests. Ceremonies typically last around 90 minutes with multiple recipients honoured in sequence. The medal or insignia presented at the ceremony belongs to the recipient.

Accepting, Declining and Forfeiture

Recipients may decline an honour if they wish. Declining is a private matter and is not publicly announced unless the individual chooses to make it known. A small number of prominent individuals have done so over the years for various reasons, ranging from political objection to the honours system itself to personal preference about public recognition. An honour can also be forfeited by the Monarch following a criminal conviction or other serious conduct. The Cabinet Office maintains a public register of forfeitures. Once forfeited, the title, designation and right to wear the insignia are all removed.

How to Nominate Someone

Any member of the public can nominate someone for an honour via gov.uk/honours at no cost. Each nomination requires at least two supporting letters from people who can speak to the nominee's contributions. The nomination form asks for a clear description of the nominee's achievements and why they merit recognition. The honours committees particularly seek nominations from underrepresented communities and regions. For the New Year 2027 Honours, nominations must be submitted by 1 September 2026. Birthday 2027 nominations are accepted year-round but must be received before August 2026 to be considered in that honours round.