Rugby star Sinfield and authors Donaldson and Blackman lead honours list
Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield has been knighted, while children's authors Malorie Blackman and Julia Donaldson have been made dames in the King's Birthday Honours.
Beyond his sporting achievements, the former England captain is recognised for raising millions of pounds for charities addressing motor neurone disease (MND).
Dame Julia and Dame Malorie are honoured for their services to literature. Their most famous works — The Gruffalo and Noughts & Crosses — have both been adapted for screen productions.
Several members of the Lionesses, who won Euro 2025, have been appointed MBEs, including Chloe Kelly, who scored the decisive penalty to win the tournament. Additionally, Charlotte Tilbury, founder of her eponymous beauty brand, has been made a CBE.
The actress Dame Helen Mirren and photojournalist Sir Don McCullin have been made Companions of Honour, an exclusive group limited to 65 members at any given time.
Members of this order are recognised for significant contributions to the arts, science, medicine, or government over an extended period.
Two women who established support groups for families who lost relatives during the pandemic have been appointed MBEs: Deborah Lewis for Covid-19 Families UK and Constance McCready for Covid-19 Families Scotland. Like most of those honoured, they are recognised for their community and charitable work.
In entertainment, the founders of the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run — Peter Lord and David Sproxton — have been knighted. Broadcaster Anneka Rice, best known for Treasure Hunt, has been made an MBE, and Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews has been made an OBE.
Sports personalities
Sir Kevin Sinfield, who holds the record for most points scored in Super League history, began his fundraising efforts after his teammate Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019.
He undertook a series of marathons and endurance challenges, raising over £11 million. During a marathon in 2023, Sinfield pushed Burrow in a wheelchair along the course before carrying him over the finish line. Burrow passed away a year later.
"I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the rugby and MND communities," said Sir Kevin.
"Since I first played rugby when I was seven, rugby league has given me so much."
Lindsey Burrow, Rob Burrow's widow, said:
"I know he has said he is dedicated to supporting the MND community for however long it takes to find a cure, and that means so much to so many people to have a champion like Kevin in their corner."
Alongside Chloe Kelly, other Lionesses honoured include Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, and Alessia Russo. Their coach and several teammates were recognised in the New Year Honours.
At 20 years old, Michelle Agyemang is the youngest recipient among nearly 1,200 people across the UK honoured in this list.
Other sports figures recognised include golfer Luke Donald and rugby union player Emily Scarratt, both made OBEs.
Donald has captained the European team to two consecutive Ryder Cup victories and will be the first skipper to win three in a row if victorious in Ireland next year.
Scarratt, the Red Roses' record points scorer, retired last autumn after winning her second women's rugby union World Cup. Gary Street, who coached Scarratt and her England team to their first World Cup win in 2014, has been made an MBE.
Additional honours include snooker player Shaun Murphy, made an OBE; rugby league legend Neil Fox, made a CBE; and Ian Robertson, honoured with an OBE for his career as a rugby union player and commentator.
The arts and music
Dame Julia Donaldson has authored over 200 books and is best known for The Gruffalo, a story about a frightening woodland creature with terrible claws and teeth.
The first book was published in 1999, with a third instalment scheduled for release in September.
"Receiving this honour has been a very happy surprise," said Dame Julia.
"I am grateful for the enthusiastic support I have received throughout my career."
Dame Malorie Blackman, author of over 70 books including several young adult novels, is similarly recognised for her contribution to literature.
She is best known for the Noughts & Crosses series, which explores the divide between a black elite and a white underclass in a dystopian London.
Sir Peter Lord and Sir David Sproxton founded Aardman Animations in 1972 after meeting at school.
Their studio produced the first Wallace & Gromit short film, A Grand Day Out, in 1989 and has since received critical acclaim for other animated series including Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep.
"We both feel it is an extraordinary privilege and an honour — as well as a complete and utter surprise — to be recognised in this way," the duo said in a statement.
Other arts figures honoured include Dexter Fletcher, actor known for Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, who has been made an OBE; former Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, appointed MBE for services to music and charity; and dance music DJ Judge Jules, who received the same honour for services to music, entertainment law, and young people.
David Holmes, a stuntman who became permanently paralysed from the chest downwards while working on a Harry Potter film, has been made an MBE for his charitable work and contributions to film and media.
Film score composer Patrick Doyle, known for works ranging from Henry V to Thor, and opera conductor Anthony Negus have both been made CBEs.
Charity and campaigners
During the initial months of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Deborah Lewis lost her father and Constance McCready lost her fiancé. These tragedies motivated them to create support networks for others who had lost loved ones during the pandemic.
Lewis explained she established the group after obtaining police permission to travel and stay in her father's empty house to organise his funeral.
"I remember I was sitting watching the news... thinking I can't be the only person that is sat on their own, dealing with all of this with nobody to really talk to."
Regarding the honour, she added she was "a little bit overwhelmed at the moment."
Patrick Vernon is being knighted for services to racial equality. He led the campaign to establish Windrush Day, which celebrates the contributions of Caribbean migrants and their families to the UK.
Henry Grunwald has been made a CBE for his work as chair of the National Holocaust Centre and Museum. Yasmin Khan, founder of the Halo Project, also received a CBE for services to ending domestic abuse and violence against women.
Merope Mills has been appointed a CBE for services to patient safety. Following the death of her daughter Martha, she created a scheme allowing concerned hospital patients to request urgent reviews of their treatment.
Business and politics
Alongside Charlotte Tilbury, other figures from business and fashion honoured include Sandra Choi, creative director for Jimmy Choo, who has been appointed an OBE.
Recognition also goes to industrial designer Ron Arad, made a CBE, and fashion designer David Emanuel, who designed the wedding dress worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1981; he has been appointed an MBE.
In politics, former Conservative MP David Gauke has been knighted for services to the justice system after conducting an independent review of sentencing.
Labour MP Jessica Morden has been made a dame for her political service, and former Tory MP Greg Hands has been knighted for similar reasons.
Chris Mullin, a former Labour MP instrumental in the release of the wrongly convicted Birmingham Six, has been knighted for political and public service.
"At this late stage in my life, I am grateful for any sliver of recognition that comes my way," he said.
