The King’s Birthday Honours List recognizes outstanding contributions across various fields, with several prominent sports figures among the recipients.
Darts players Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are appointed MBEs, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity. Virginia Wade receives a CBE for her contributions to tennis and charity, while David Beckham and Billy Boston are knighted.
Teenage world champion Littler and world number one Humphries’ MBEs highlight darts’ remarkable rise.
Former tennis star Wade, the only British woman to win all four Grand Slam singles titles, is honored for her sporting achievements and charitable work.
Former England football captain Beckham’s knighthood, announced last week, and rugby league legend Boston’s knighthood, conferred on Monday, round out the high-profile sporting recognitions.
Motorcycling champion Michael Dunlop, a record-breaking Isle of Man TT racer, will receive an MBE, a testament to his perseverance following the tragic losses of his father, brother, and uncle.
Other notable MBE recipients include Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly, golfer Trish Johnson, BBC gymnastics commentator Christine Still, Bury FC chair Marcel de Matas, and former Great Britain basketball player Julius Joseph.
Further honors are bestowed upon boxer Natasha Jonas, former Great Britain ice hockey captain Saffron Lane, wheelchair tennis player Andy Lapthorne, and former England cricketers Steven Davies, external and David ‘Syd’ Lawrence.
Deta Hedman, a highly decorated darts player, receives an OBE, alongside former England cricketer Devon Malcolm.
Retired Paralympic swimming champion and volleyball player Monica Vaughan and two-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee are also appointed OBEs, as is Oldham Athletic owner Frank Rothwell for his charitable work in dementia research.
Diverse Sporting Achievements Recognized in King’s Birthday Honours
King Charles Awards First Rugby League Knighthood
Beckham Receives Knighthood for Football and Charity Work
A Legacy of Sporting Excellence Honored
Littler and Humphries’ honors coincide with their participation in the World Cup of Darts in Germany.
Littler expressed his gratitude, stating, “This is an amazing and unexpected honour.”
He reflects on his meteoric rise, becoming the youngest world darts champion at age 17.
Littler’s achievements, including Grand Slam, World Series, and UK Open titles, have significantly contributed to darts’ surging popularity.
Humphries, also an MBE recipient, credits their success in rejuvenating the sport’s appeal to a younger audience.
He highlights the transformative impact of their recent victories, including his Premier League triumph over Littler.
Both join a distinguished list of darts players honored with MBEs.
Virginia Wade’s honor adds to her illustrious career, including her Wimbledon victory in 1977.
She remains the last British woman to win the Wimbledon singles title.
Wade’s accomplishments extend to three Grand Slam singles titles and several doubles titles.
Her career transitioned into successful commentary and punditry, culminating in induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
This CBE marks her third Birthday Honours inclusion, following MBEs in 1973 and 1986.
Beckham’s knighthood follows his OBE in 2003, recognizing his football career and extensive charitable work.
He played for prominent clubs and represented England 115 times, retiring in 2013.
Beckham expressed his deep honor, stating, “It’s such an emotional moment to share with my family.”
His previous nomination for a knighthood dates back to 2011.
Reports of leaked emails criticizing the honours system were addressed as “hacked”, “doctored” and “private” at the time.
Beckham’s contributions extend to securing the 2012 London Olympics and his longstanding ambassadorship for Unicef.
His recent ambassadorship for The King’s Foundation further underscores his commitment to youth education and environmental awareness.
Boston’s knighthood, presented early due to health concerns, marks a historic first for rugby league.
The 90-year-old’s legacy as a rugby league icon and a pioneer for black sports stars is celebrated.
His family and representatives from his former club joined him at Buckingham Palace for the ceremony.
Sir Billy Boston’s career highlights include three Challenge Cups and 24 tries in 31 appearances for Great Britain.
Knighthood
David Beckham (former England footballer), for services to sport and charity
Billy Boston (former rugby league player), for services to rugby league football
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Virginia Wade (former tennis player), for services to tennis and charity
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Alistair Brownlee (former triathlete), for services to triathlon and charity
Deta Hedman (darts player), for services to darts and charity
Devon Malcolm (former cricket player), for services to cricket and to diversity in cricket
Terence Pateman (Chair, Northern Amateur Football League), for services to grassroots sport and to community relations
Frank Rothwell (Oldham Athletic owner), for charitable services to dementia research
Stephen Sutherland (commercial manager, Charlton Athletic Football Club), for services to sport
Monica Vaughan (former Paralympic swimmer), for services to sport
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Neil Booth (former lawn bowler), for services to lawn bowls
Anwen Butten (lawn bowler), for services to lawn bowls, to cancer care and to the community in Wales
Maureen Clark (former netball player), for services to netball in Surrey
Jill Coulter-Sloan (head coach at Craigavon golf and ski centre), for services to disability sport
Rachel Daly (footballer), for services to association football
Christopher Davies (runner), for services to running and to health and wellbeing
Steven Davies (former cricketer), for services to sport
Marcel de Matas (lately chair, Bury Football Club), for services to association football
Michael Dunlop (motorcycle road racer), for services to motor cycle racing
Bryan Henderson (director of cricket and NFL, Sky), for services to cricket
Frederick Hudson, for services to Arsenal Football Club community
Luke Humphries (darts player), for services to darts
Patricia Johnson (golfer), for services to women’s golf
Natasha Jonas (boxer), for services to boxing and to the community in Liverpool
Julius Joseph (basketball player), for services to basketball
Lucy Katan (founder, British Grooms Association), for services to sport
Andrew Lapthorne (wheelchair tennis player), for services to tennis
Saffron Lane, née Allen (ice hockey player), for services to sport
David Lawrence (former cricketer), for services to cricket
Luke Littler (darts player), for services to darts
Grace Muir (founder and chief executive officer, homing ex-racehorses organisation scheme), for services to charity, to animal welfare and to education
Christine Pascall (lately president, England Golf), for services to golf
Sanjay Patel (lately managing director, The Hundred), for services to cricket
Sheelagh Redpath (lately technical officials co-ordinator for netball, Commonwealth Games), for services to netball
Christine Still (commentator), for services to gymnastics
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Joseph Adams, for services to Altrincham Football Club and to charitable fundraising
Kathryn Burgess (founder, Cheshire Girls Football League), for services to girls football in mid-Cheshire
Colin Dalgarno (President, Strathaven Rugby Club; Chair, Whiteshawgate 3G Sports Trust and volunteer), for services to the community in Strathaven
Valerie Hoyle (secretary, Rotherham United Women Football Club), for services to association football and to the community in Rotherham
Zarit Hussain, for services to cricket
John O’Connor (Director, Angling Cymru), for services to recreational angling in Wales