Several prominent figures in British sports have been recognized in King Charles` latest Birthday Honours list.
Notable individuals include arguably the most famous footballer, David Beckham, British tennis icon Virginia Wade, double Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee, and darts sensation Luke Littler. Here`s a look at some of the key athletes honored.
Knighthoods
William `Billy` Boston
Rugby League veteran William `Billy` Boston receives the sport`s first knighthood in its 130-year history. A pioneering Black sportsman, Boston scored 478 tries in 488 appearances for Wigan and was the first non-white player selected for a Great Britain Rugby League Lions tour (1954). The knighthood was reportedly awarded early due to health concerns.
David Beckham
Football icon David Beckham is finally knighted. The Manchester United and England legend won multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League, earned 115 England caps (59 as captain), played for Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and PSG. He was a key player in Man United`s 1999 treble win.
CBEs
Virgina Wade
Three-time Grand Slam winner and the last British woman to win Wimbledon (1977), tennis great Virginia Wade, has been appointed a CBE.
OBEs
Deta Hedman
Jamaican-born darts player Deta Hedman, known as `The Heart of Darts`, receives an OBE. She is a two-time World Masters and three-time Dutch Open champion.
Alistair Brownlee
Triathlete Alistair Brownlee, the only athlete with two individual Olympic triathlon golds (London 2012, Rio 2016) and a four-time world champion, is awarded an OBE. He retired in late 2024 at 36.
Monica Vaughan
Paralympic swimming legend Monica Vaughan, winner of five gold medals at the 1976 Toronto Games, receives an OBE at 73.
Devon Malcolm
Former England cricketer Devon Malcolm, known for his pace, receives an OBE. He played 40 Tests and 10 ODIs, taking over 1,000 first-class wickets for Derbyshire and Leicestershire. He took 144 international wickets for England.
MBEs
Luke Littler
Teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler, the youngest ever winner of the Darts world championship in January (at 17), is appointed an MBE. He won the BBC Young Sports Personality of The Year in 2024 and was runner-up for the main award in 2025. He defeated Michael Van Gerwen to win the 2025 Darts world championship.
Luke Humphries
Darts World No. 1 and 2024 World Champion Luke Humphries receives an MBE. He is one of four players to achieve the prestigious `Triple Crown` and defeated Littler in the 2024 World Championship final.
Rachel Daly
Lionesses forward Rachel Daly, part of the Euro 2022 winning squad, is awarded an MBE. She earned 84 caps for England, scoring 16 goals, played in the 2020 Olympics, and retired from international football in April 2024.
Andy Lapthorne
Wheelchair tennis player Andy Lapthorne, a 17-time Grand Slam winner (singles/doubles) and four-time Paralympic medallist, is appointed an MBE.
Natasha Jonas
Boxer Natasha Jonas, a pioneer for British women`s boxing, receives an MBE. She was the first British woman to qualify for and win an Olympic boxing match (2012) and is a two-weight world champion. She was named British Boxing Board of Control`s British Boxer of the Year in 2022.
Steven Davies
Cricketer Steven Davies, with over 14,000 first-class runs in a 20-year career for Worcestershire, Surrey, and Somerset, and who played eight ODIs and five T20s for England, receives an MBE.
David `Syd` Lawrence
Former England cricketer David `Syd` Lawrence, who took over 500 first-class wickets for Gloucestershire and 22 international wickets, is appointed an MBE. He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease in 2024.
Michael Dunlop
Northern Irish motorcycle racer Michael Dunlop, record holder for Isle of Man TT wins and podiums, known as `The Raging Bull` with 124 road race wins, receives an MBE.
Trish Johnson
Golfer Trish Johnson, with nearly 40 years in the sport, including two LPGA Championships and a U.S Senior Women`s Open title, is appointed an MBE for her success in women`s golf.
