King’s Birthday Honours List 2023: Davina McCall, Ken Bruce & Dame Anna Wintour among those recognised
The first King’s Birthday Honours List has recognised more than 1,500 people for their services to their industries and communities in 2023.
Broadcasters Davina McCall and Ken Bruce as well as ex-footballer Ian Wright are among more than 1,500 public figures who have been recognised in the King’s first Birthday Honours List. Wright, who played for Arsenal and England before becoming a TV pundit, has received an OBE while Bruce and McCall have been made MBEs.
Meanwhile former hostage Terry Waite received a knighthood, as did novelists Ben Okri and the late Martin Amis, who died earlier this year. Exeter Labour MP Ben Bradshaw was also knighted alongside director Stephen Frears who is known for directing The Queen.
Calendar Girls actress Celia Imrie and Kenneth Cranham who starred in Shine on Harvey Moon have been made CBEs and Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure was made an MBE. Vogue’s Dame Anna Wintour and author Sir Ian McEwan have both joined the Companions of Honour.
The list recognises famous faces as well as people who have helped Ukranian refugees and been involved in events following the Queen’s death in 2022. It’s the first from King Charles for his official birthday in June, which is seperate from the monarch’s actual birthday in November.
There are 1,171 people on this year’s list. It is split almost evenly between 585 men and 586 women. The Cabinet Office said that 52% are people who have been recognised for work in their communities and 11% come from an ethnic minority background.
The oldest recipient in this year’s list is 106-year-old Joan Willett - she received a British Empire Medal for fundraising for the British Heart Foundation. The youngest is Junior Jay Frood, 18-year-old anti-bullying campaigner from Birkenhead who has received a BEM for services to vulnerable children.
King’s Birthday Honours List - some of the most famous recepients
Davina McCall