King Charles III has this month revoked nine MBEs and OBEs, the UK’s prestigious honors awarded by the monarch to recognize significant contributions to society.
The OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) is awarded to individuals who have made notable contributions to their region or country. It honors a “distinguished regional or county-wide role in any field, through achievement or service to the community including notable practitioners known nationally.”
The MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), on the other hand, recognizes “achievement or service in and to the community which is outstanding in its field and has delivered sustained and real impact which stands out as an example to others.”
Decisions to remove these awards are rare and not taken lightly. This month, however, King Charles III stripped nine people of their MBEs and OBEs, according to Tyla. Reasons include criminal convictions and actions that brought the honors system into disrepute.
King Charles III stripped nine people of their MBEs and OBEs
Among the most high-profile cases is former Scottish rugby star Stuart Hogg. Hogg, who received an MBE in the 2024 New Year honors for services to rugby, had the award revoked after pleading guilty to domestic abuse charges.
The official notice in The Gazette reads: “The King has directed that the appointment of Stuart William Hogg to be a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 30 December 2023 shall be cancelled and annulled and that his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order,” according to Tyla.
Another case is Paul Allen Rose, founder of Barrow’s Owl Sanctuary in Cumbria. As reported by News and Star, he was sentenced in May 2024 after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure animal welfare under Sections 4 and 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The full list of recipients who have had their honorary titles revoked this month includes:
- Ian Ashbold, MBE 2016 – revoked due to criminal conviction
- Lloyd Hamilton, MBE 2011 – revoked due to criminal conviction
- Angela Middleton, MBE 2019 – revoked for bringing the honors system into disrepute
- Nigel O’Connor, MBE 2015 – revoked due to professional censure
- Tony Reilly, OBE 2011 – revoked due to professional censure
- Paul Rose, MBE 2002 – revoked due to criminal conviction
- Anant Shah, OBE 2020 – revoked for bringing the honors system into disrepute
- Graham Trewhella, MBE 2010 – revoked due to criminal conviction
- Stuart Hogg, MBE 2024 – revoked due to criminal conviction
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