King Charles strips nine individuals of their honorary titles

In a rare and decisive move to protect the integrity of the British honors system, King Charles III has officially revoked nine MBEs and OBEs this month. The cancellations, reserved for cases where recipients have brought the system into disrepute or faced criminal convictions, mark a significant “cleansing” of the Register of the Order.

The honors in question—the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) and the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire)—are among the nation’s most storied accolades. Traditionally, an OBE is reserved for those who have made a “distinguished regional or county-wide role in any field,” recognizing achievements that have a national resonance. The MBE, meanwhile, is awarded for “outstanding” service to the community that delivers a “sustained and real impact,” serving as a model for others to follow.

However, as the recent notices in The Gazette make clear, these titles are held at the Sovereign’s pleasure and can be “cancelled and annulled” if the recipient’s conduct no longer reflects the values of the Order.

Fall from Grace: Stuart Hogg and Paul Rose

Perhaps the most high-profile name on this month’s list is former Scottish rugby captain Stuart Hogg. Hogg was originally named a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2024 New Year Honors list for his extensive services to the sport.

His tenure as an MBE was short-lived. Following a guilty plea to charges of domestic abuse, the King directed that Hogg’s appointment, dated December 30, 2023, be erased from the Register. The official notice confirmed the annulment, effectively stripping the athlete of the prestigious post-nominal letters.

Similarly, the case of Paul Allen Rose, the founder of Barrow’s Owl Sanctuary in Cumbria, has drawn significant public attention. Rose, who was awarded an MBE in 2002, saw his twenty-year legacy tarnished following a May 2024 sentencing. He pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure animal welfare, violations falling under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. For an individual honored for his work with nature, the nature of the crimes made the revocation inevitable.

The Full List of Revocations

The Cabinet Office and the Palace rarely comment on the specifics of individual forfeiture cases beyond the broad categories of “criminal conviction,” “professional censure,” or “bringing the system into disrepute.” The nine individuals stripped of their titles this month include:

• Stuart Hogg (MBE 2024): Revoked following a criminal conviction.
• Paul Rose (MBE 2002): Revoked following a criminal conviction.
• Ian Ashbold (MBE 2016): Revoked following a criminal conviction.
• Lloyd Hamilton (MBE 2011): Revoked following a criminal conviction.
• Graham Trewhella (MBE 2010): Revoked following a criminal conviction.
• Angela Middleton (MBE 2019): Revoked for bringing the honors system into disrepute.
• Anant Shah (OBE 2020): Revoked for bringing the honors system into disrepute.
• Nigel O’Connor (MBE 2015): Revoked following professional censure.
• Tony Reilly (OBE 2011): Revoked following professional censure.

A System of Accountability

While thousands of honors are distributed annually, the Forfeiture Committee remains a vital, if quiet, arm of the honors process. The committee considers cases where a recipient has been found guilty of a criminal offense or has been censured by a professional body (such as the General Medical Council or the Law Society).

By directing these names be “erased,” the King sends a clear message: while the Crown is quick to recognize service, it is equally prepared to withdraw that recognition when the recipient’s actions fail to meet the standard of “distinction” required by the Order.