Honours for Kevin Sinfield, Helen Mirren, Julia Donaldson and the Lionesses
Kevin Sinfield gets a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours List
Arise Sir Kevin Sinfield! The rugby league legend is being recognised in the King's Birthday honours list alongside Helen Mirren, six of the European Championship-winning Lionesses and children's author Julia Donaldson.
Sinfield was knighted, becoming Sir Kevin, while members of the England women’s football team were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Sir Kevin Sinfield
Sir Kevin has completed six running challenges, having been inspired by former Leeds Rhinos team-mate Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 after living with motor neurone disease (MND) for four-and-a-half years.
The former England rugby league captain, who has so far raised more than £10 million for MND charities, received a knighthood for his services to the MND community, as well as for services to league and union rugby.
“I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the rugby and MND communities,” Sir Kevin said.
“Since I first played rugby when I was seven, rugby league has given me so much.
“I am particularly proud to follow in the footsteps of the great Sir Billy Boston with rugby league’s second-ever knighthood in over 130 years of the sport. Sir Billy overcame so much in his life and is still loved by the game.”
Sir Kevin, 45, is taking on his seventh and final endurance challenge – all of which have been based around the number seven as it was the number Burrow wore in his playing days – in September.
Dame Helen gets further honour
Actress Dame Helen Mirren was made a Companion of Honour for services to drama.
There are only 65 Companions of Honour at any one time.
Winning Lionesses rewarded
In football, Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty for England in last summer’s nail-biting Euros final, is one of the players to be made an MBE.
Thousands of fans lined the Mall in July to celebrate the Lionesses’ dramatic victory over Spain.
At 20 years old, rising star forward Michelle Agyemang is the youngest recipient on the list.
Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, forwards Alessia Russo and Lauren James, and defender Jess Carter were also honoured.
Other people in the King's birthday honours list
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi became an MBE for his services to music and charity, and Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley received the same honour for her services to drama and her charity work.
Iommi said: “What an unbelievable honour to receive an MBE.
“It’s been a privilege doing something I love and then to see that music connects with so many over the years.”
Riley, who turns 50 in July, told the Press Association: “Wow, if this is not my best 50th birthday present, being awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list, I don’t know what is.
Broadcaster and musician Cerys Matthews became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to music.
DJ Judge Jules, who became an MBE, said the honour feels like “a reward for my industry” while TV presenter Anneka Rice was made an MBE for her services to charity and broadcasting.
The Gruffalo writer Julia Donaldson and Noughts and Crosses author Malorie Blackman both received damehoods for their services to literature.
Dame Julia was the UK’s best-selling author last year, overtaking Harry Potter creator JK Rowling amid the Gruffalo’s continued popularity and the success of more recent characters like Zog the dragon.
Businessman Dave Fishwick, who inspired Netflix’s Bank of Dave film, was made an OBE for services to finance, business and charity.
Beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist to the stars, Charlotte Tilbury, was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
The oldest recipient was 101-year-old Pauline Hough, who received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to theatre and to the community in Nantwich, Cheshire.