Receiving an honour from the British monarchy is considered one of the highest recognitions in the United Kingdom. Awards such as Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) or Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) are granted to individuals who have made meaningful contributions to society, whether through national achievements or long-term service within local communities.
However, these honours are not guaranteed for life. Under certain circumstances, they can be revoked through a process known as forfeiture.
This measure is typically applied when an honouree has been convicted of serious crimes, engaged in misconduct, damaged the reputation of the honours system, or been removed from a professional body. In such cases, the Honours Forfeiture Committee may recommend that the monarch formally withdraw the distinction.
Recently, several individuals had their honours removed, prompting renewed discussion about past cases where prominent figures lost their titles. Here are some of the most notable examples.
Harvey Weinstein
Film producer Harvey Weinstein was stripped of his honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020.
He originally received the honour in 2004 in recognition of his contributions to the British film industry. During his career, Weinstein was involved in producing acclaimed films such as Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love.
His reputation collapsed in 2017 following numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault that helped ignite the global #MeToo movement.
In 2020, Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault in New York and sentenced to 23 years in prison. That conviction was later overturned in 2024 by the New York Court of Appeals, which ordered a retrial. During the retrial he was found guilty on one count of criminal sexual conduct, while another charge resulted in acquittal and a rape charge ended in a mistrial.
Separately, Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 and received a 16-year sentence for rape and sexual assault.
Robert Mugabe
Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe lost his honorary knighthood in 2008.