King Charles has taken decisive action this month by stripping nine individuals of their royal honours, including former Scottish rugby hero Stuart Hogg, after a series of criminal convictions and professional misconduct cases brought the honours system into disrepute.
The decision to revoke honours such as the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) is rare and only made after serious wrongdoing. But within just weeks, nine people have already had their prestigious titles cancelled.
Among the most high-profile names is former Scotland rugby international Stuart Hogg. Once celebrated for his stellar sporting career, Hogg had been awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for his services to rugby. However, that honour has now been formally revoked following his criminal conviction.
The former Glasgow Warriors fullback enjoyed a decorated career that included over 100 caps for Scotland and participation in three British and Irish Lions tours. His achievements on the pitch once made him one of Scotland’s most recognisable rugby figures.
But his reputation suffered a dramatic fall after he admitted shouting, swearing and behaving in an abusive manner toward his estranged wife, Gillian. The admission led to public calls for the honour to be removed.
According to an official notice published in the UK’s public record, The Gazette, the King ordered the honour to be annulled. The notice stated that the appointment of Stuart William Hogg as a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 30 December 2023, had been cancelled and annulled and that his name would be erased from the official register of the order.
Hogg was not the only recipient to lose an honour. Several others have also been stripped of their titles after criminal convictions or professional misconduct.
Among them is Paul Allen Rose, founder of Barrow’s Owl Sanctuary in Cumbria. Rose had originally been awarded an MBE but lost the honour following a conviction related to animal welfare offences.
He was sentenced in May 2024 after pleading guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and one count of failing to ensure proper animal welfare, offences prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
A notice published by The Gazette confirmed that Rose’s honour had been removed as a result of the criminal conviction.
In total, nine individuals have had their honours revoked in the latest round of annulments:
Ian Ashbold, awarded an MBE in 2016, stripped following a criminal conviction.
Lloyd Hamilton, awarded an MBE in 2011, stripped following a criminal conviction.
Angela Middleton, awarded an MBE in 2019, stripped for bringing the honours system into disrepute.
Nigel O’Connor, awarded an MBE in 2015, stripped following professional censure.
Tony Reilly, awarded an OBE in 2011, stripped following professional censure.
Paul Rose, awarded an MBE in 2002, stripped following a criminal conviction.
Anant Shah, awarded an OBE in 2020, stripped for bringing the honours system into disrepute.
Graham Trewhella, awarded an MBE in 2010, stripped following a criminal conviction.
Stuart Hogg, awarded an MBE in 2024, stripped following a criminal conviction.
The honours forfeiture process exists to protect the integrity of the UK’s honours system. When recipients are convicted of serious crimes or are found guilty of conduct that undermines the reputation of the award, the honours committee can recommend their removal — with the final decision ultimately approved by the monarch.
While losing an honour is relatively uncommon, the latest list shows how quickly reputations can change when public figures fall from grace.
