Celebrities who have turned down Royal Honours – from John Lennon to Nigella Lawson

They’re some of the biggest names in music, film, television and science — but not all celebrities are flattered when a letter from Buckingham Palace lands on the doormat.

While many stars proudly accept their honours with a smile and a photo op, others have politely (or not-so-politely) said: “No, thanks.” Whether it’s a quiet refusal, a public rejection, or handing back a medal years later, these snubs have become almost as headline-grabbing as the honours themselves.

Some turned down MBEs or OBEs out of principle. Others believed they hadn’t earned them — or that someone else deserved it more. And in a few cases, it was personal. From Hollywood icons and pop legends to political pranksters and professors, the reasons for saying no vary wildly… but they all made a statement. Here’s a look at the stars who’ve said thanks — but no thanks — to the British honours system.

Scottish actor Alan Cumming, 60, handed back his OBE in January 2023, citing his “misgivings” about being associated with the “toxicity” of the British Empire.

He had been awarded the honour in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to acting and his LGBTQ+ activism in the US.

At the time, Cumming said he was “shocked and delighted” to receive the honour. But following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the actor said he had a change of heart.

In an Instagram post, he explained: “The Queen’s death and the ensuing conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes.”

Welsh actor Michael Sheen revealed he gave back his OBE in 2017 to avoid being a “hypocrite” when speaking publicly about the monarchy.

Sheen, 55, said the decision came after he began researching Welsh history for the 2017 Raymond Williams lecture.

In a 2020 interview with Owen Jones, he explained: “Well I have a choice – I either don’t give this lecture and hold on to my OBE or I give this lecture and I have to give my OBE back.”

The Frost/Nixon and Good Omens star was awarded the honour in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to drama.

Reflecting on historic tensions, Sheen said: “These things have power... These are things that happened so long ago but these things are resonant.”

The Beatles icon John Lennon famously returned his MBE in 1969, four years after all four bandmates were awarded the honour for their contribution to British industry.

At the time of the award, some critics scoffed at the idea of giving royal honours to pop stars. Lennon hit back, saying: “They got them for killing people. We got ours for entertaining. I’d say we deserve ours more.”

But the peace-loving musician had a change of heart. In a handwritten letter to the Queen, Lennon explained his protest, stating: “I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. With love. John Lennon of Bag.”

His act of defiance became one of the most iconic honour rejections in British pop culture history.

Comedy legends Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders turned down OBEs in 2001, offered for their services to comedy and drama.

The pair, known for iconic shows like French and Saunders and Absolutely Fabulous, felt they hadn’t earned it in comparison to others.

Speaking to Best magazine years later, Saunders said: "We thought, 'there's a lot of people who deserve these things' and for us to get it sort of made it a mockery. There are people who work for the NHS or do great charity work and we hadn't really done anything. It was silly."

She also told Source magazine in 2008: "At the time, we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes."

David Bowie snubbed royal honours not once but twice — first turning down a CBE in 2000 and then refusing a knighthood in 2003.

The music icon made it clear he wasn’t interested in medals or titles. At the time, he said: "I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that.

"I seriously don't know what it's for. It's not what I spent my life working for."

When asked if he was anti-monarchy, the Starman singer added: "I'd only have a serious answer to that if I was living in this country."

George Harrison turned down an OBE in 2000, but the reason behind his rejection was never officially confirmed. However, according to Beatles biographer and family friend Ray Connelly, the legendary guitarist likely felt snubbed.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Connelly said Harrison "would have felt insulted" that Paul McCartney had been knighted three years earlier while he was only being offered a lesser honour.

Roald Dahl, the beloved children’s author behind classics like Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, reportedly turned down an OBE in 1986.

According to Awards Intelligence, Dahl declined the honour as he was holding out for a knighthood instead. Despite his enormous literary impact, he died in 1990 at the age of 74 without receiving any formal recognition.

It is widely believed he felt an OBE didn’t reflect the scale of his contribution to British culture.

Alfred Hitchcock turned down a CBE in 1962, reportedly believing it didn’t match the scale of his contribution to British cinema, according to the Daily Mail.

The legendary director of Psycho, Rear Window and The Birds felt the honour didn’t do him justice. However, he later accepted a knighthood — finally receiving the recognition he felt was deserved — just four months before his death in 1980.

TV chef Nigella Lawson turned down an OBE in 2001, modestly dismissing the idea that her culinary fame warranted such recognition.

At the time, Lawson said: "I'm not saving lives and I'm not doing anything other than something I absolutely love."

Known for her sensual, self-styled approach to cooking, Lawson’s refusal reflected her belief that honours should be reserved for those making a deeper societal impact.

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking reportedly refused a knighthood in the 1990s — not for lack of merit, but because he was fundamentally opposed to the system.

A spokesperson said at the time: "Prof Hawking does not like titles. In fact he dislikes the whole concept of them."

He is also believed to have rejected the offer due to concerns over the government's science funding policy. Despite being one of the most celebrated minds of his generation, Hawking remained firmly unimpressed by ceremonial accolades.

Comedy legend John Cleese has said “no, thanks” to more than one honour in his time. The Monty Python and Fawlty Towers star first rejected a CBE in 1996, calling the system “silly.”

Three years later, he also turned down a peerage offered by then-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph in 2011, Cleese explained: "Paddy was going to offer me one when he ceased to be leader of the Lib Dems, for political services – not because I was such a wonderful human being, and because I'd helped them [the Lib Dems] a lot.

"But I realised this involved being in England in the winter and I thought that was too much of a price to pay."

Veteran broadcaster Jon Snow declined an OBE in 2000 and later revealed why in the 2002 documentary Secrets of the Honours System.

Reflecting on the experience, the Channel 4 News anchor said: “I tried to find out why I’d been given it and was unable to get a clear answer or, indeed, to find out who had proposed me.”

Snow, 77, has also been vocal about his discomfort with the term “empire” being part of the honours system