The King’s Birthday Honours List for 2025 has been released, recognising people across the UK who have been positively contributing to their communities, sectors and the nation.
In total, there are 1200 recipients spanning community champions, sporting role models, pioneers in the arts, health workers, and supporters of young people. Birthday Honours is one of two such lists each year, the other being at New Year.
Recipients are selected by independent committees from nominations that are sent to them, with those chosen then formally approved by the Prime Minister and The King. Anyone can nominate or be nominated.
Learn more about the specifics of the British honours system here.
Recipients of honours for 2025 include:
David Beckham: he has been awarded a knighthood, in recognition for both his football career, and his contributions to British society. He was previously appointed an OBE (officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2003.
In recent months, David has been seen at a number of engagements alongside members of the Royal Family. Beckham also became an ambassador for The King’s Foundation in 2024.
Speaking about being honoured with his knighthood the 48-year-old said: ‘Growing up in east London with parents and grandparents who were so patriotic and proud to be British, I never could have imagined I would receive such a truly humbling honour.
‘To have played for and captained my country was the greatest privilege of my career, and literally a boyhood dream come true.’
Gary Oldman and Roger Daltry join him in taking home a knighthood. The Oscar-winning actor receives his for services to drama. while the singer co-founded The Who in 1964, has been recognised for services to charity and music, having been a Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust since 2000.
The Trust is also supported by Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Sarah, Duchess of York.
Georgia Harrison: former Love Island star turned campaigner has been awarded an MBE for services to tackling online privacy. Harrison is being recognised after dedicating her career to raising awareness of revenge porn and issues surrounding consent, after explicit footage of her was shared on an OnlyFans site without her permission.
She said: ‘It means the world to have this kind of recognition, not just for me, but for all the survivors who’ve been through what I have.’
Penny Mordaunt: she has becomes a Dame. She previously served in the Conservative Party and represented Portsmouth North between 2010 and 2024, but many will recognise her from The King’s Coronation when she acted as Lord President of the Council – the first time the duty had been carried out by a woman – carrying a sword of state.
Mordaunt noted that she was ‘very conscious that everything I have ever got done has been with the help and efforts of others. So I’m feeling very grateful on many counts today.’
Elaine Paige: was honoured for her services to charity and music, with connections to two charities – The Children’s Trust and The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust – with a damehood.
‘It’s all very exciting’ she stated. ‘I’ve got all these different emotions coming at me all at once. I’m proud and I feel grateful and I’m thrilled and surprised, and so it’s been quite a lot to take in’.
Strictly Come Dancing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkelman have both been made MBEs, while sculptor Sir Anthony Gormley receives a Companion of Honour for his service to the arts.
Tim Knox, Director of the Royal Collection, receives a CVO, a commander of the Royal Victorian Order, while The Queen’s apothecary, Dr. Nicholas Brown, ios maid a Lietenant (LVO).
In what is thought to be a first for the honours system, three members of the same family have been named in the same list. Jenna, her mother Caroline and her father Duncan Speirs have each been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM), after they founded children’s cancer charity Calum’s Cabin when Jenna’s twin brother Calum died of an inoperable brain tumour at the age of 12.
NHS staff involved in the response to the Southport knife attack have also received gongs. Paul Smith, Senior Paramedic Team Leader, has been given a BEM, along with surgeons Martin Johnson and Elizabeth Parsons, and Dr George Bramham, who was part of the first responder team.
