King Charles strips Jeffrey Donaldson of Knighthood as 10 Honours are revoked in 2026

King Charles III has formally revoked the knighthood of former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson, following his conviction for historic sexual offences, in one of a series of honours forfeitures recorded during 2026.

The decision has drawn renewed attention to the British honours system, including how honours can be removed when recipients are convicted of serious offences or are judged to have brought the system into disrepute.

Donaldson, who served as DUP leader from 2021 to 2024 and represented Lagan Valley in Parliament from 1997 until his arrest in 2024, was awarded his knighthood in 2016 in recognition of his political service.

King Charles Revokes Jeffrey Donaldson’s Knighthood

The King formally cancelled and annulled Donaldson’s knighthood in July 2026, following his conviction at Newry Crown Court.

A notice published in The London Gazette on July 23 stated that the King had directed the cancellation and annulment of the knighthood conferred on Jeffrey Mark Donaldson on June 11, 2016, as a Knight Bachelor.

Donaldson had already requested that his knighthood be forfeited following the guilty verdicts. He also resigned from the Privy Council, ending his formal membership of the historic advisory body to the Sovereign.

The final decision to revoke the honour, however, rests with the Sovereign acting on official advice.

Why Was Jeffrey Donaldson Stripped of His Knighthood?

Donaldson was found guilty in June 2026 of 18 offences involving historic sexual abuse against two women when they were children.

The charges brought against him in 2024 included one count of rape, 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency. The offences covered a period between 1985 and 2008, according to the supplied reports.

Following his conviction, the decision to remove his knighthood became the latest step in the consequences facing the former DUP leader.

Green Party councillor Emily Kerr welcomed the decision, saying the knighthood represented public recognition and that its removal was appropriate following the conviction.

The leader of the Oxfordshire Conservatives, Liam Walker, also praised the decision, arguing that removing honours from people convicted of serious offences helps protect the integrity and value of the honours system.

Jeffrey Donaldson Also Lost His Privy Council Position

The loss of Donaldson’s knighthood was accompanied by his removal from the Privy Council.

Donaldson had requested that he resign from the council following his conviction. His name was subsequently removed from the institution’s membership.

The Privy Council is one of Britain’s oldest political institutions and serves as a formal advisory body to the Sovereign.

The developments mean Donaldson no longer holds the public distinction associated with being a Knight Bachelor, while his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, also loses the courtesy title Lady Donaldson as a consequence of the revocation.

King Charles Has Revoked 10 Honours in 2026

The Donaldson case is part of a broader series of honours forfeitures recorded this year.

According to the supplied Yahoo report, 10 people have had honours revoked in 2026, with Donaldson being the most recent and high-profile case.

Nine other individuals had their honours forfeited in a batch recorded in March.

Those cases involved a range of circumstances, including criminal convictions, professional censure, animal-welfare offences and conduct considered to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

Among those named were Ian Ashbolt, who lost an MBE following a criminal conviction, and Lloyd Hamilton, who also lost an MBE following a conviction.

Angela Middleton forfeited her MBE for bringing the honours system into disrepute, while Nigel O’Connor and Tony Reilly lost honours following professional censure.

Anant Shah also lost an OBE for bringing the honours system into disrepute.

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Who Else Lost Honours in 2026?

The March forfeiture list also included Paul Rose, owner of a Cumbrian owl sanctuary, who lost his MBE following animal-welfare offences.

Graham Trewhella lost his MBE following a criminal conviction.

Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg was also stripped of his MBE after admitting domestic abuse.

The cases demonstrate that honours can be forfeited for several reasons rather than only following criminal convictions.

Government guidance states that honours may be revoked when an individual is considered to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

How Does the UK Honours Forfeiture Process Work?

The removal of an honour is not simply an automatic decision made by the monarch.

According to the supplied report, the Forfeiture Committee assesses cases and makes recommendations to the Prime Minister and, ultimately, the King.

Once the appropriate decision has been made, the forfeiture is formally recorded through official notices.

The London Gazette uses formal language to record these decisions. In the March cases, the notices stated that the King had directed that the relevant appointments be “cancelled and annulled.”

The process is designed to protect the reputation of the honours system while providing a formal mechanism for dealing with recipients whose later conduct makes their continued recognition inappropriate.

What Does Losing a Knighthood Mean?

A person who loses a knighthood no longer holds the honour or associated recognition awarded through the British honours system.

In Donaldson’s case, the revocation means he can no longer use the title “Sir” associated with his Knight Bachelor honour.

The forfeiture also affects his wife’s courtesy title, with Eleanor Donaldson losing the title “Lady Donaldson.”

The removal of an honour is separate from the criminal justice process. Donaldson’s conviction and subsequent sentencing are matters for the courts, while the forfeiture concerns his status within the honours system.

What Happens to Jeffrey Donaldson Next?

Donaldson is currently being held on remand at Maghaberry Prison and is expected to be sentenced later in 2026, according to the supplied GB News report.

The revocation of his knighthood does not determine his criminal sentence. His conviction and sentencing remain matters for the criminal courts.

The case has nevertheless become a significant test of how the British honours system responds when a recipient is later convicted of serious offences.

For King Charles, the decision also highlights the monarch’s formal role in the final stage of the honours forfeiture process.

As the 2026 list reaches 10 revoked honours, attention is likely to remain on how the system handles future cases involving criminal convictions, professional misconduct and conduct that damages public confidence in Britain’s honours.

 

FAQ

Why did King Charles strip Jeffrey Donaldson of his knighthood?

King Charles formally cancelled and annulled Jeffrey Donaldson’s knighthood after the former DUP leader was convicted of 18 historic sexual offences involving two women who were children at the time of the offences.

Did Jeffrey Donaldson ask for his knighthood to be removed?

Yes. According to the supplied reports, Donaldson requested the forfeiture of his knighthood following his conviction. He also requested to resign from the Privy Council.

When was Jeffrey Donaldson stripped of his knighthood?

The knighthood was formally cancelled and annulled in July 2026. A notice confirming the decision was published in The London Gazette on July 23.

What did Jeffrey Donaldson get convicted of?

The supplied reports state that Donaldson was convicted at Newry Crown Court in June 2026 of 18 offences involving historic sexual abuse. The charges had included rape, indecent assault and gross indecency.

Can King Charles remove a knighthood?

The supplied Yahoo report states that the Sovereign makes the final decision on honours forfeiture after recommendations through the official process. The Forfeiture Committee assesses cases and makes recommendations to the Prime Minister and ultimately the King.

What happens when someone loses a knighthood?

The person loses the honour and the associated recognition. In the case of a Knight Bachelor, this means the person can no longer use the title “Sir” associated with the knighthood.

Does Jeffrey Donaldson still have the title Sir?

No. Following the formal cancellation of his knighthood, Donaldson no longer holds the associated “Sir” title.

Did Jeffrey Donaldson lose his Privy Council membership?

Yes. Donaldson requested his resignation from the Privy Council following his conviction, and his name was subsequently removed from the council.

What is the Privy Council?

The Privy Council is a historic British institution that serves as a formal advisory body to the Sovereign.

How many people has King Charles stripped of honours in 2026?

According to the supplied Yahoo report, 10 people had their honours revoked in 2026, including Jeffrey Donaldson.

Who else lost honours in 2026?

The March forfeiture batch included Ian Ashbolt, Lloyd Hamilton, Angela Middleton, Nigel O’Connor, Tony Reilly, Anant Shah, Paul Rose, Graham Trewhella and Stuart Hogg, according to the supplied report.

Why was Stuart Hogg stripped of his MBE?

The supplied Yahoo report says former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg lost his MBE after admitting domestic abuse.

What is the Forfeiture Committee?

The Forfeiture Committee is involved in assessing cases where an individual’s conduct may justify the removal of a British honour. It makes recommendations as part of the official forfeiture process.

Can honours be removed after a criminal conviction?

Yes. The supplied reports show that criminal convictions can form the basis for the forfeiture of honours.

Can someone lose an honour without being convicted of a crime?

Yes. The supplied 2026 cases include people who lost honours following professional censure or because their conduct was considered to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

Does losing a knighthood affect a criminal sentence?

No. The forfeiture of an honour and criminal sentencing are separate processes. The criminal courts determine the sentence, while honours forfeiture concerns recognition under the British honours system.

Does Jeffrey Donaldson’s wife still have the title Lady Donaldson?

According to the supplied GB News report, Eleanor Donaldson loses the courtesy title “Lady Donaldson” as a consequence of the revocation of her husband’s knighthood.

What is the London Gazette?

The London Gazette is the official publication used by the UK government for a wide range of formal notices, including honours-related announcements.

When did Jeffrey Donaldson receive his knighthood?

Donaldson received his knighthood in 2016, following his political service.

When was Jeffrey Donaldson DUP leader?

Donaldson served as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 2021 to 2024.

Where is Jeffrey Donaldson now?

The supplied GB News report states that Donaldson is being held on remand at Maghaberry Prison and is expected to be sentenced later in 2026.

Why is King Charles’ decision significant?

The decision highlights the formal role of the Sovereign in the final stage of the UK’s honours forfeiture process and reflects the system’s mechanism for removing honours when recipients are deemed to have brought the honours system into disrepute.