The proportion of people rejecting a British honour has risen by a quarter in three years, analysis by The Mail reveals.
Since Charles became King in September 2022, more than 120 people have turned down a knighthood, damehood, MBE, OBE or other awards in recognition of their achievements in public life.
Although the annual figures fluctuate and remain small, 2024 marked the second-highest number of rejections in 15 years.
The figures for 2024 include those in the New Year’s Honours list announced in December 2023 along with in the King’s Birthday Honours List in June.
They do not include the honours revealed last night, which are categorised as 2025 honours.
This year, 55 people refused an offer from the King’s birthday and new year honours lists – 2.3 per cent of the 2,314 offered.
That marked a noticeable increase on the 51 (2.19 per cent of 2,297) and 43 people (1.76 per cent of 2,439) who declined an award in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
But the figure is less than the 70 rejections (2.7 per cent of 3,248) from 2020, Cabinet Office data obtained under Freedom of Information laws showed.
The revelations comes amid an increasing reappraisal of the British Empire’s legacy, with Caribbean nations such as Barbados demanding the UK Government to pay billions in reparations over the slave trade.
The word ‘empire’ may even be dropped from honours as part of reforms being considered by royal officials amid unease about Britain’s imperial history.
The OBE Medal – The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry, the OBE signifies an Officer of the Order
Since Charles (pictured) became King in September 2022, more than 120 people have turned down a knighthood, damehood, MBE, OBE or other awards
In the past, several recipients, including Benjamin Zephaniah, have turned down the honour because of the word ‘empire’
Actor Alan Cumming is among stars who have returned honours. He handed back his OBE last year after saying he had ‘misgivings about being associated with the toxicity of empire’
According to a newly-updated edition of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Daily Mail columnist Robert Hardman, those recognised with an OBE – Order of the British Empire – could instead choose to receive an Order of British Excellence.
Another option, the Order of Elizabeth, has also been proposed – but any changes would need to be signed off by Sir Keir Starmer.
The changes being discussed would ensure colonial-era titles would be retained for those who wanted to accept them.
Reform to the honours system was first suggested by the Commons Public Administration Select Committee in 2004.
Norman Baker, the former Liberal Democrat MP and author of And What Do You Do? What the Royal Family Don’t Want You to Know, told The Mail: ‘It’s embarrassing so many (honours) are being rejected. There are too many people who don’t deserve them.’
He said the current system is ‘hopelessly out of date’ because it ‘not based on honour, but patronage’, favouring politicians and senior civil servants over ‘people who do deserve them’.
Nominees are notified by letter or email by Downing Street that the monarch intends to honour them.
Recipients are then asked to reply to accept the award formally, before being told not to disclose any details until the honours list is published.
An honour may also be declined, so in that case no information would be made public.
David Bowie is also one famous figure who famously turned down an honour
Celebrity cook and writer Nigella Lawson rejected an OBE in 2001. It is not known why she turned it down
Roald Dahl, the maverick author who wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, turned down an OBE in 1986 when he was 70. He died, unhonoured, four years later
Any alteration to the honours system would be down to Keir Starmer’s government
Several recipients — including poet Benjamin Zephaniah — have turned down the honour because of the word ‘empire’.
Notable ‘honours refuseniks’ include children’s writer Roald Dahl, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson and singer-songwriter David Bowie.
Others who have returned their awards include Beatles legend John Lennon, who gave up his MBE in protest of Britain’s involvement in the Nigerian Civil War, as well as Welsh actor Michael Sheen due to the centuries-old practice of bestowing the title of Prince of Wales to the heir apparent to the English throne.
Awards are sometimes forfeited when recipients are at centre of controversy, or convicted of a criminal offence.
Former Post Office head Paula Vennells handed back her CBE in February over her management of the Horizon IT scandal.
Meanwhile, artist Rolf Harris was stripped of the same title in 2015, a year after he was jailed over sexual assaults on young girls.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said: ‘Only about two per cent of people refuse to accept honours.
‘Individuals decline honours for a variety of reasons and we respect their personal decision to do so.’