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King Charles strips eight criminals of royal honours

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 06:08 · Archive

King Charles has removed MBEs, OBEs and a knighthood from eight people with criminal convictions.

King Charles has removed royal honours from eight people convicted of crimes since the beginning of 2026. The removed titles include a knighthood, MBEs and OBEs. Criminal conviction is listed as one of the most common reasons for stripping honours, along with bringing the system into disrepute and professional censure.

The removals began with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who had his knighthood removed after being given a 15-year sentence this month for historical sex offences against two women when they were children. Donaldson led the Democratic Unionist Party between 2021 and 2024. In March 2026, rugby player Stuart Hogg lost his MBE after pleading guilty to domestic abuse. Four others—Ian Ashbolt, Lloyd Hamilton, Paul Rose and Graham Trewhella—were also stripped of their honours that month.

In October 2026, Charles Montegriffo and Ian Hudson lost their MBE and OBE respectively for criminal convictions. Local Oxfordshire councillor Liam Walker praised King Charles for the removals, saying that 'anyone convicted of serious criminal offences has forfeited the privilege of holding them' and that stripping honours protects the system's integrity.

King Charles strips eight criminals of royal honours
Image: Oxford Mail

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In this story: King Charles · Jeffrey Donaldson · Stuart Hogg · Democratic Unionist Party · Scotland

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