King Charles applauded as Dragons’ Den star among 26 to lose MBE

Since coming to the throne, records dating back to August 2023 show that a total of 43 people have had their honours stripped.

This is due to criminal convictions, professional censure or bringing the system into disrepute.

Among those to have lost an honour are a leading UK politician, a former BBC star and an award-winning UK composer.

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The leader of the Oxfordshire Conservatives, Liam Walker, commended His Majesty for protecting the “integrity and value of the honours system” after Jeffrey Donaldson had his knighthood removed.

Mr Donaldson was the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party between 2021 and 2024 and has appeared at the Oxford Union, participating in a well-publicised debate in 2004.

However, in June he was convicted of historical child sex abuse offences at Newry Crown Court, and his solicitor John McBurney confirmed that papers have been lodged for an appeal.

Mr Walker said: “Honours are awarded to recognise outstanding service and achievement, and anyone convicted of serious criminal offences has forfeited the privilege of holding them.

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“Stripping those honours helps protect the integrity and value of the honours system.”

This time last year, former Dragons’ Den star Julie Meyer was stripped of her MBE, one of 12 to lose an honour during August 2025.

Having been awarded the MBE for services to entrepreneurship in 2012, it was taken from her for bringing the honours system into disrepute.

This followed the 59-year-old being given a six-month suspended sentence for contempt of court after she repeatedly failed to submit documents and attend hearings relating to £200,000 in unpaid fees to her solicitors, Farrer & Co.

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She had been well-known to the UK public, appearing on the online version of Dragon’s Den in 2009.

Others to have forfeited honours since August 2023 include former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells, who lost her CBE after being found to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

Former BBC Songs of Praise presenter Mike Pilavachi also forfeited his MBE, while Jan Latham-Koenig lost his OBE following a criminal conviction.

The list also includes McKeeva Bush, Lawrence Jones, Angela Middleton, Raminder Ranger and Anil Bhanot.

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Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg is among those to have had an honour removed in recent years.

Other names on the Cabinet Office list include Peter Antonelli, Anthony Bailey, Paul Cahill and Dario Gradi.

Anthony Griffin, Thomas Hogg, Richard Pallister and Raymond Parry also forfeited honours, alongside Krishna Singh, Jonathan Ullmer and Nicholas Welch.

Richard Cowie, Hugh Morgan-Williams, Michael Andrea, Robert Johnston and Shiu-Kum Lam are also listed among those whose honours have been removed.

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Wayne O’Donnell, Andrew Whiddett, Iain Fergusson, David Pickthall and Timothy Biles also forfeited honours.

The list further includes Harry Legg, Sean Cox, Richard Evans and Peter Conniffe.

Also named are Ian Ashbolt, Lloyd Hamilton, Nigel O’Connor, Tony Reilly, Paul Rose, Anant Shah and Graham Trewhella.

Government records show that 43 people have forfeited honours since August 2023, with awards ranging from the British Empire Medal and MBE to OBEs, CBEs and knighthoods.