Tom Daley is reportedly due to receive a knighthood for his incredible contributions to diving after confirming his retirement.
The 30-year-old Olympian revealed earlier this week that he was stepping back from professional sport, meaning the recent Paris games were his final Olympic competition.
The father-of-two recently earned his fifth Olympic medal, marking a spectacular end to his professional diving career.
Speaking to Vogue about his retirement announcement, Daley said: "I felt so incredibly nervous going into this, knowing it was my last Olympics.
"There was a lot of pressure and expectations. I was eager for it to be done.
"But when I walked out, and saw my husband and kids and my friends and family in the audience, I was like, you know what? This is exactly why I did this.
"It was emotional at the end, up there on the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive.
"But I have to make the decision at some point and it feels like the right time. It's the right time to call it a day."
According to The Times, Daley is on track to receive the royal honour, which would grant the diver the title of ‘sir’.
While he already received an OBE in 2022, a knighthood is seen as one of the UK’s most coveted royal orders.
However, some columnists and people on social media have questioned whether Daley should accept the award, suggesting that knighthoods should be reserved for people who serve the community rather than athletes.
It remains to be seen whether Daley will accept the honour, as he also has the option to turn it down.
Contrary to popular belief, an honour being rejected isn’t as rare as one might think. Throughout history, a number of people have turned down the recognition – or even returned them.
But why do people turn awards down and who are some of the most prominent people that have turned down honours?
Why do people turn them down?
When the monarch has informally approved a person to honour, the recipient will receive a formal letter.
This letter will ask them if they would like to accept the honour the monarch would like to bestow upon them. The recipient then has the right to decide whether they would like to accept it or not.
While many decide to go ahead and accept the honour, a number of people over the years have rejected it. Their reasonings for it have ranged from political stances to believing they didn’t deserve the title.
List of notable names who rejected honours
Roald Dahl
The beloved children’s author, known for books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, reportedly turned down a knighthood in 1986.
The information was revealed by a Freedom of Information Act submission by the Telegraph. However, the reason for Dahl turning down the honour wasn’t included.
Nigella Lawson
Famous TV chef Nigella Lawson once revealed that she turned down an OBE from the Queen in 2001.
As for her reasoning, she explained: “I’m not saving lives and I’m not doing anything other than something I absolutely love.”
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders
The comedy duo, known for their work on Absolutely Fabulous among many other well-known films and television series, turned down OBEs back in 2001.
Talking about it to Source magazine in 2008, Saunders confessed: “If I felt I deserved a Damehood, I’d accept it.
“At the time, we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn’t seem right somehow… It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes,” she added.
David Bowie
The iconic performer has turned down honours from the Queen twice: once in 2000 when he was offered a CBE and later, in 2003, when he was offered a knighthood.
The musician explained why he made those decisions, saying: “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that. I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”
Stephen Hawking
The legendary scientist was apparently offered a knighthood back in the 1990s but he decided to turn it down.
His decision was reported to be due to the UK Government’s science-funding decisions.
Jon Snow
The news anchor and journalist who made a name for himself in the world of news with a decades-long career was offered an OBE in the past, but rejected it.
Talking to the New York Times about it, Snow explained that he believed journalists shouldn’t take honours from the Government and added: “I tried to find out why I’d been given it and was unable to get a clear answer or, indeed, to find out who had proposed me.”
LS Lowry
The famed painter is believed to hold the record for the most refusals, having reportedly turned down five honours, including a knighthood, a CBE, and an OBE.
His close friend Harold Riley later revealed that the artist was a private and guarded person who would not have wanted to change his name, which contributed to his decision not to accept the honours.
People who have returned their honours
It’s not uncommon for people to return their royal honours years after accepting the awards, either.
Again, the reasons why people choose to do so vary.
For example, some have developed certain opinions about the monarchy that resulted in them returning the honour. Others may have fallen from favour and feel like the right thing to do is return their awards.
Notable people who have returned their awards for various reasons include John Lennon, Michael Sheen, Alan Cumming, and Paula Vennells.
