List of people who have declined a British honour facts for kids

British honours are special awards given by the King or Queen of the United Kingdom to people who have done amazing things. These awards can be for many reasons, like helping the community, excelling in sports, arts, or science, or serving the country. Some honours come with a special title, like "Sir" or "Dame," or even a place in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.

However, not everyone accepts these honours. Sometimes, people are offered an award but decide to say "no." This list tells you about some of the famous people who have turned down a British honour and why they might have done so. Usually, these offers are kept private, but sometimes the public finds out.

Why People Say No

People refuse British honours for many different reasons.

• Not wanting a title: Some people don't want a special title like "Sir" or "Dame." They might prefer to be known simply by their name. For example, the famous scientist Paul Dirac didn't like being called by his first name, so he refused a knighthood. He later accepted the Order of Merit, which doesn't come with a title.
• Political reasons: Some people disagree with the government or the idea of the monarchy. They might refuse an honour to show their political beliefs. For instance, some Welsh people prefer awards from Wales rather than British ones.
• Wanting a different honour: Sometimes, someone might turn down a lower honour hoping to be offered a higher one later.
• Already having enough recognition: Famous people like actors or musicians might feel they already have enough public recognition and don't need an official honour.
• Cost: Historically, some higher titles like dukedoms came with an expectation of a very expensive lifestyle, which some people couldn't afford or didn't want to maintain.

Honours People Have Declined

High Titles (Dukedom, Marquessate, Earldom, Viscountcy, Barony)

These are some of the highest titles, often coming with a seat in the House of Lords.

• Winston Churchill: The former Prime Minister was offered a dukedom twice but said no. He wanted to stay a Member of Parliament and help his son's political career.
• Benjamin Disraeli: Another former Prime Minister, he turned down a dukedom but had already accepted an earldom.
• Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury: A Prime Minister who refused a dukedom because of the high cost of living that dukes were expected to have.
• Prince Louis of Battenberg: He refused a dukedom because he couldn't afford the lifestyle. He accepted a lower title instead.
• Henry Addington: A former Prime Minister who declined an earldom because he wanted to stay in the House of Commons. He later accepted a viscountcy.
• Neville Chamberlain: A Prime Minister who refused an earldom and a knighthood when he retired in 1940.
• Anthony Eden: Another former Prime Minister who declined an earldom when he retired but later accepted one.
• William Ewart Gladstone: A four-time Prime Minister who refused an earldom.
• Harold Macmillan: A Prime Minister who declined an earldom when he retired but later accepted one.
• Angus Ogilvy: He refused an earldom when he married Princess Alexandra but later accepted a knighthood.
• Mark Phillips: He declined an earldom when he married Princess Anne.
• Charles Booth: A social researcher who refused a viscountcy because he was not interested in politics.
• Leonard Elmhirst: A philanthropist who declined a barony, saying it would be hard to explain to his friends who were country people.
• Billy Hughes: The Prime Minister of Australia, who declined a barony.
• Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten: He refused a barony because other high-ranking military leaders had received higher honours. He later received a viscountcy and then an earldom.
• Joseph Strutt: A soldier and politician who refused all honours for himself but suggested his wife receive a barony instead, which she did.

Life Peerage (Barony)

Life peerages are special titles that last only for the person's lifetime and do not pass on to their children. They often come with a seat in the House of Lords.

• Former Prime Ministers:

* Edward Heath: He stayed in the House of Commons for many years after being Prime Minister and didn't approve of political honours. * John Major: He felt that a seat in the House of Lords didn't fit with retiring from politics. He later accepted a knighthood. * Tony Blair: He said the House of Lords was "not my sort of thing." His government had also made the House of Lords smaller. He later accepted a knighthood. * Gordon Brown: He refused on principle, as he believed the House of Lords should be elected by the public.

• Others:

* Isaiah Berlin: A famous philosopher who declined a life peerage. * Rodney Bickerstaffe: A trade union leader who refused, saying it would go against his socialist beliefs. * John Cleese: The actor and comedian from Monty Python declined a life peerage, saying he "did not wish to spend winters in England" and that being a peer would be "ridiculous." He had also refused a CBE. * Michael Foot: A former leader of the Labour Party who declined a life peerage. * Jack Jones: A trade union leader who refused several times because he wanted the House of Lords to be abolished. * Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor: A Roman Catholic Archbishop who declined a peerage because the Church advised against priests holding political office. * J. B. Priestley: A well-known novelist and playwright who declined a life peerage.

• Royal Family Members: After a change in the House of Lords in 1999, several members of the Royal Family were offered life peerages as a formality, but they all declined, except for the Earl of Snowdon. These included:

* Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh * Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) * Prince Andrew, Duke of York * Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex

Baronetcy

A baronetcy is a hereditary honour, meaning it can be passed down through the family.

• Charles Babbage: A famous scientist who declined both a knighthood and a baronetcy.
• Alfred, Lord Tennyson: A famous poet who declined a baronetcy twice but later accepted a peerage.
• George Peabody: A poet who declined a baronetcy and a knighthood offered by Queen Victoria.

Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter

This is a very old and high honour.

• Charles Vincent Massey: He had to refuse because of Canada's policy on British honours.
• Neville Chamberlain: He was offered the Order shortly before he died and felt too ill to accept.
• Harold Macmillan: He declined, believing it should only be given for service during a national crisis.

Knighthood (Knight Bachelor)

A knighthood gives the title "Sir" to men.

• Frank Auerbach: A famous artist who declined a knighthood.
• Peter Benenson: The founder of Amnesty International, who refused several times due to concerns about human rights issues involving the British government.
• Alan Bennett: A well-known playwright who declined a knighthood and a CBE.
• David Bowie: The famous musician declined a knighthood and a CBE.
• Danny Boyle: The film director (known for Slumdog Millionaire) declined a knighthood.
• Joseph Conrad: A famous novelist who declined a knighthood.
• Francis Crick: The scientist who helped discover the structure of DNA. He declined a knighthood and a CBE but accepted the Order of Merit.
• Paul Dirac: Another famous scientist who declined a knighthood because he didn't like being addressed by his first name. He later accepted the Order of Merit.
• Bernie Ecclestone: The former boss of Formula One, who said he didn't feel he deserved an honour.
• Michael Faraday: A famous scientist who turned down a knighthood and the presidency of the Royal Society, preferring to avoid worldly honours.
• Albert Finney: An actor who declined a knighthood and a CBE.
• E. M. Forster: A famous author who declined a knighthood but accepted other honours that didn't come with a title.
• Michael Frayn: A novelist and playwright who declined a knighthood and a CBE, saying he liked his name as it was.
• John Galsworthy: A playwright who declined a knighthood but accepted the Order of Merit.
• Graham Greene: A famous novelist who declined a knighthood.
• Stephen Hawking: The famous physicist reportedly turned down a knighthood because he "does not like titles."
• Peter Higgs: The physicist who discovered the Higgs boson, declined a knighthood because he felt honours were used for political reasons. He later accepted the Order of the Companions of Honour.
• David Hockney: A famous artist who declined a knighthood but accepted other honours that don't come with a title.
• Aldous Huxley: A famous author who declined a knighthood.
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah: The founder of Pakistan, who said, "I prefer to be plain Mr Jinnah."
• Augustus John: An artist who refused a knighthood.
• Rudyard Kipling: The famous writer (known for The Jungle Book) declined a knighthood twice and the Order of Merit twice.
• T. E. Lawrence: "Lawrence of Arabia" declined a knighthood due to his anger over a political agreement.
• L. S. Lowry: A famous artist who holds the record for declining the most honours, including a knighthood, an OBE, and a CBE, and two Companion of Honour awards.
• Humphrey Lyttleton: A jazz musician who declined a knighthood.
• Neil MacGregor: The former director of the British Museum, who declined a knighthood but accepted the Order of Merit.
• Henry Moore: A famous sculptor who declined a knighthood.
• Robert Morley: An actor who declined a knighthood.
• Peter O'Toole: A famous film and stage actor who declined a knighthood.
• Harold Pinter: A famous playwright who declined a knighthood.
• J. B. Priestley: A playwright and novelist who declined a knighthood.
• Frederick Sanger: A scientist and Nobel Prize winner who declined a knighthood.
• George Bernard Shaw: The famous playwright declined a knighthood and the Order of Merit, saying that "merit" in writing could only be decided by history.
• Paul Scofield: An actor who declined a knighthood three times.
• Quentin Skinner: A historian who declined a knighthood because he was a republican.
• Ralph Vaughan Williams: A famous composer who declined a knighthood but accepted the Order of Merit.
• Patrick White: An Australian writer and Nobel Prize winner who declined a knighthood.
• Bill Woodfull: An Australian cricketer who turned down a knighthood for cricket but accepted a lower honour for his work in education, which he felt was more important.
• Benjamin Zephaniah: A poet who declined an OBE, stating that the word "empire" reminded him of slavery and brutality.

Appointment to the Order of Merit (OM)

This is a very special honour given by the monarch for outstanding service in the arts, sciences, or public service. It does not come with a title.

• W. H. Auden: A famous poet who declined the Order of Merit.
• Rudyard Kipling: He declined the Order of Merit twice.
• A. E. Housman: A poet and classical scholar who declined the Order of Merit.
• George Bernard Shaw: He declined the Order of Merit, as mentioned earlier.
• H. G. Wells: A famous writer who declined the Order of Merit.

Appointment as a Companion of Honour (CH)

This honour is given for outstanding achievements in arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry, or religion. It does not come with a title.

• W. H. Auden: A poet who declined this honour.
• Francis Bacon: A famous artist who declined this honour and a CBE.
• Leonard Cheshire: A war hero and charity worker who declined this honour but later accepted a life peerage.
• Robert Graves: A poet and novelist who declined this honour and a CBE.
• Edward Heath: A former Prime Minister who declined this honour.
• L. S. Lowry: The artist who declined this honour twice, along with many others.
• Ben Nicholson: An artist who declined this honour but accepted the Order of Merit.
• Michael Oakeshott: A political philosopher who declined this honour and a knighthood.
• J. B. Priestley: The writer who declined this honour, a knighthood, and a peerage, but accepted the Order of Merit.
• Virginia Woolf: The famous writer who said, "I don't take honours."
• Leonard Woolf: A writer and publisher who declined this honour.

Appointment to the Order of the British Empire (OBE, CBE, DBE, KBE, GBE)

These honours are given for significant achievements or service to the community. They include different levels, from Member (MBE) to Knight/Dame Grand Cross (GBE).

• Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Moran: He declined a GBE, saying it was "the sort of thing given to civil servants."
• T. E. Lawrence: "Lawrence of Arabia" declined a KBE.
• Dorothy Hodgkin: A scientist and Nobel Prize winner who declined a DBE but later accepted the Order of Merit.
• Glenda Jackson: An actress and politician who declined a DBE.
• Doris Lessing: An author and Nobel Prize winner who declined a DBE and an OBE, stating it was in the name of a "non-existent Empire." She accepted the Companion of Honour.
• Vanessa Redgrave: An actress who declined a damehood in 1999 but accepted it in 2022.
• Geraldine McEwan: An actress who declined a DBE and an OBE.
• Martin Amis: A novelist who declined a CBE.
• J. G. Ballard: An author who declined a CBE, calling the honours system a "charade" that props up the monarchy.
• Julian Barnes: A novelist who declined a CBE.
• Honor Blackman: An actress (known for James Bond) who declined a CBE because she was a republican.
• Julie Christie: A film actress who declined a CBE.
• David Cornwell: The author (known as John le Carré) who declined a CBE.
• Andrew Davies: A Welsh writer known for TV adaptations, who declined a CBE.
• Albert Finney: An actor who declined a CBE and a knighthood.
• Lucian Freud: A famous artist who declined a CBE but later accepted the Companion of Honour and the Order of Merit.
• Graham Greene: The author who declined a CBE.
• C. S. Lewis: The author (known for The Chronicles of Narnia) declined a CBE to avoid political associations.
• Ken Livingstone: The former Mayor of London, who declined a CBE because he believed politicians shouldn't get such awards.
• Malcolm McDowell: An actor who declined a CBE.
• Helen Mirren: An actress who declined a CBE but later accepted a damehood.
• VS Naipaul: An author who declined a CBE but later accepted a knighthood.
• Ben Nicholson: An artist who declined a CBE.
• Tony Richardson: A film and theatre director who declined a CBE.
• Alan Rickman: An actor (known for Harry Potter) who declined a CBE.
• Jennifer Saunders: A comedian and actress who declined a CBE.
• Nitin Sawhney: A musician who declined an OBE for ethical reasons, saying, "I wouldn't like anything with the word 'empire' after my name." He later accepted a CBE.
• Phil Scraton: A professor of criminology who declined an OBE, stating he couldn't accept an honour tied to the "British empire" and because of issues with justice for victims.
• Jon Snow: A famous newscaster who declined an OBE.
• Evelyn Waugh: A novelist who declined a CBE because he wanted a knighthood.
• Paul Weller: A musician who declined a CBE.
• Peter Alliss: A golfer and commentator who declined an OBE.
• Jim Broadbent: An actor who declined an OBE.
• Peter Capaldi: An actor and director who declined an OBE.
• Roald Dahl: The famous children's author declined an OBE, reportedly because he wanted a knighthood.
• Dawn French: A comedian and actress who declined an OBE.
• George Harrison: The former Beatle reportedly declined an OBE because he felt he deserved a knighthood like Paul McCartney.
• Hamish Henderson: A poet and folklorist who declined an OBE in protest against the government's nuclear policies.
• Hattie Jacques: An actress and comedian who declined an OBE.
• Carwyn James: A Welsh rugby coach who declined an OBE.
• Philip Larkin: A poet who declined an OBE.
• Nigella Lawson: A chef and TV personality who declined an OBE.
• Ken Loach: A film director who declined an OBE, saying, "I turned down the OBE because it's not a club you want to join when you look at the villains who've got it."
• John Oliver: A comic and TV host who declined an OBE, saying, "Why on earth would I want that?"
• Michael Rosen: A children's author and poet who declined an OBE.
• Jennifer Saunders: A comedian and actress who declined an OBE.
• Kenneth Williams: An actor and comedian who declined an OBE, saying, "When offered something which obviously isn't worth the price... we still have the right to say 'No thanks.'"
• Michael Winner: A film director who declined an OBE, famously saying, "An OBE is what you get if you clean the toilets well at King's Cross station."
• Susannah York: An actress who declined an OBE.
• Joseph Corré: The co-founder of Agent Provocateur, who declined an MBE, saying he believed the then-Prime Minister was "morally corrupt."
• Lynn Faulds Wood: A TV presenter who declined an MBE, saying she would love an honour if it didn't have the word "empire" in it.
• Howard Gayle: The first black footballer to play for Liverpool FC, who declined an MBE, saying it would be "a betrayal" of Africans who suffered under the British Empire.
• Beti George: She declined an MBE in 2020, stating she was a republican and saw the Empire as a symbol of oppression.
• Hywel Gwynfryn: He declined an MBE, feeling he was already recognized by his country, Wales.
• Jonzi D: A writer and choreographer who declined an MBE, saying, "I am diametrically opposed to the idea of empire. Man, I'm a Star Wars fan – empire is bad."

Giving Back an Honour

While there's no official way to completely "renounce" an honour from the official records, some people choose to return the physical medal or badge as a symbolic gesture.

• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: A journalist who returned her MBE medal in protest against the Iraq War and because of her republican views.
• Roy Bailey: A folk singer who returned his MBE medal in protest against the British government's foreign policy.
• Alan Cumming: An actor who returned his OBE medal in 2023 because he saw "the toxicity of empire."
• Carla Lane: A television writer who returned her OBE medal in protest against an honour given to someone from a company involved in animal testing.
• John Lennon: The famous musician from The Beatles returned his MBE medal in 1969, partly in protest against the Vietnam War.
• Michael Sheen: A Welsh actor who returned his OBE medal in 2020 after researching the history between Wales and the British state, saying he would be a "hypocrite" otherwise.
• The Beatles: When the four members of The Beatles were nominated for the MBE in 1965, some people who already had honours returned theirs in protest.
• Paula Vennells: The former CEO of Post Office Limited, who announced in 2024 that she would return her CBE due to the Post Office scandal, where many subpostmasters were wrongly accused of crimes.
• Rabindranath Tagore: A famous author and Nobel Prize winner from India, who was knighted in 1915 but gave back his knighthood in 1919 to protest a massacre in India.

Ideas for New Honours

Some people believe the UK should have different ways to honour people, especially in places like Wales.

• Wales: There have been calls for a special Welsh honours system, like a "Medal Cymru." While the Welsh Government hasn't replaced the British system, they did launch the St David Awards in 2013 to celebrate inspiring work by Welsh people.

See also

• Canadian titles debate