Midlands sportspeople were among those recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list, alongside a Black Sabbath legend, rugby league great Kevin Sinfield, and actress Dame Helen Mirren. Birmingham-born former Aston Villa goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and ex-Blues defender Jess Carter, from Warwick, are among six of England's football Lionesses made MBE after they won a second consecutive European Championship title last summer.
Football Honours
Another ex-Blues player, Lee Carsley, now England under-21 men's manager, receives the same award. Carsley, from Shard End, briefly led the full national team on an interim basis in 2024 following Gareth Southgate's departure. The other Lionesses honoured are Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning penalty in the final against Spain, forward Michelle Agyemang, Alessia Russo, and Lauren James.
Other Midlands Honours
Former Blues manager Lou Macari is made MBE for his decade-long commitment to a homeless charity in Stoke-on-Trent. The former Scotland star established the Macari Foundation in 2016 after recognising the scale of the housing problem in the city. Elsewhere, Sabbath star Tony Iommi said it was an "unbelievable honour" to also be made MBE for his services to music and charity. He found fame alongside the late Ozzy Osbourne, "Geezer" Butler, and Bill Ward but devoted himself to charitable causes such as international disaster relief and cancer awareness, having been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012.
Rugby and Entertainment Honours
Sinfield is knighted, becoming Sir Kevin, after completing six running challenges. He was 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, is honoured 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.
Mirren was made a Companion of Honour for services to drama. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 film The Queen. Nearly 1,200 people from across the UK receive honours in the latest list. Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley was made MBE for her services to drama and her charity work. 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. To say I am humbled is an absolute understatement. Thank you so much, my heart is the warmest it could ever be."
Creative Industries Honours
David Sproxton and Peter Lord, the co-founders of the Academy Award-winning animation studio behind beloved characters such as Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep, are knighted for their services to the creative industries and to charity. Sir David and Sir Peter founded Aardman together more than 50 years ago. Broadcaster and musician Cerys Matthews becomes OBE for her services to music. The Catatonia singer, who fronts a weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music, was made MBE in 2014. DJ Judge Jules, who becomes MBE, said the honour feels like "a reward for my industry" while TV presenter Anneka Rice is made MBE for her services to charity and broadcasting. She took on various tasks in her show Challenge Anneka, which aired from 1989 to 1995 and was briefly revived in 2023, often to raise money for charity.
Literary and Business Honours
The Gruffalo writer Julia Donaldson and Noughts and Crosses author Malorie Blackman receive 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, is made OBE for services to finance, business and charity. He told PA it was "wonderful" and "unbelievable". Beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist to the stars, Charlotte Tilbury, is made CBE. The 53-year-old founded her eponymous beauty brand in 2013 after working as a celebrity make-up artist for more than 20 years, having created looks for the likes of Kate Moss and Kim Kardashian.
The oldest recipient was 101-year-old Pauline Hough, who receives a British Empire Medal for services to theatre and to the community in Nantwich, Cheshire. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "Across the UK, people are quietly changing lives and strengthening their communities. This Honours List is a chance to recognise them. Their dedication shows how lasting change is built – through compassion, resilience and a commitment to others. It speaks to the decent, hopeful country we are proud to be, and on behalf of the whole nation, I want to say thank you."
