Many celebrities have revoked their honours from the Queen as a sign of protest such as John Lennon.
Other have had them revoked after a fall from grace including disgraced US movie producer Harvey Weinstein.
Weinstein, who is serving a 23-year prison sentence, was stripped of his CBE following his conviction for rape and sexual assault this year.
And there has been many more who have lost their titles under rules which state they can be stripped if a person “damages” the reputation of the system.
As the list of New Year’s Honours is released today, Daily Star takes a look at the people who have been forced to kiss goodbye to their honours from the Queen.
Harvey Weinstein
The Queen annulled Weinstein’s appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Image: Getty Images)
Harvey Weinstein was awarded a CBE in 2004 for services to the film industry but in September The Queen annulled his honour.
His title was removed after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sex crimes.
He was hauled before a US court after the New York Times published accusations from several women that he had abused or harassed them.
The stripping of Weinstein’s CBE came after his Fellowship from the British Film Institute (BFI) was removed in 2017.
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison in July 2014 (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Children’s entertainer Rolf Harris had to revoke his honour given to him in 2006 after being found guilty of sex attacks on girls as young as seven.
The star, who first appeared on Brit TV screens in the 1950s, was given the title after painting the Queen’s portrait for her 80th birthday a year earlier.
The convicted paedophile, 90, was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison in July 2014.
Rolf was released on licence three years later.
‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed
Naseem Hamed was stripped of his MBE in 2007 (Image: ExpressStar)
Former featherweight world boxing champion Naseem Hamed was stripped of his MBE in 2007.
His honour was revoked after he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for causing a 90mph car crash.
The crash caused the driver of another car to break every major bone in his body and suffer brain injuries, The Guardian reported.
Notice of the award’s withdrawal was given in the London Gazette.
The notice read: “The Queen has directed that the appointment of Naseem Hamed to be a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 31 December 1998, shall be cancelled and annulled and that his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order.”
Stuart Hall
Stuart Hall was jailed in 2013 for a series of sexual assaults on young girls (Image: PA)
It’s A Knockout presenter Stuart Hall was given his OBE in 2012 for services to broadcasting and charity.
But the former BBC broadcaster had it taken away by the Queen when he was jailed in 2013 for a series of sexual assaults on young girls.
The star was jailed for 30 months after admitting 14 charges of indecent assault on girls aged between nine and 17 between 1967 and 1985.
During his trial the judge said Hall had acted with “a sense of arrogance and immunity… vile bravado and horrible betrayal”.
He was released from jail in 2015 after serving half of his sentence, the BBC reported.
Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe led Zimbabwe between 1980 and 2017 (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe was handed his honorary CBE in 1994.
Robert being given the title was an unusual event as he was not a citizen of a Commonwealth country.
But his honorary knighthood was revoked in 2008 after reports emerged of him slaughtering thousands in the 1980s.
The killing took place as part of crackdowns on rebel groups.
Robert had also overseen the forced takeover of white-owned farms – an act which was blamed for ruining the country’s economy.
Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Saville is suspected to have raped 34 women and girls and sexually assaulted up to 450 people (Image: Getty Images)
DJ and broadcaster Jimmy Savile was awarded an OBE in 1972 and was later knighted in 1990 for his services to charity.
After his death aged 84 in 2011 his titles were stripped when historic sex crime allegations were made against him.
Savile is suspected of raping 34 women and girls.
It is also alleged he sexually assaulted up to 450 people, including some as young as eight, according to an official report.
He had held the honours throughout his lifetime despite constant rumours he was a paedophile.
Although honours are automatically removed when a person dies, the Honours Forfeiture Committee faced calls to remove his honours.
It emerged in February this year Buckingham Palace officials did not think there was any need to change policy on honours.
Officials said they didn’t believe action needed to be taken as “the honour effectively dies with the recipient”, Yahoo! news reported.
Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott at Newmarket Racecourse in October 2019 (Image: Getty Images)
English jockey Lester Piggott was awarded an OBE in 1975 but lost it in 1987 when he was jailed for tax fraud.
He served 366 days of a three-year prison sentence for failing to declare £3.25m in tax, The Guardian reported.
Piggott retired in 1985 but not before he won over 5,300 races and was champion jockey 11 times.
The jockey who had a record nine Epsom Derby wins later became a racehorse trainer.
Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini sided with Germany to declare war on the UK in 1939 (Image: Getty Images)
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was awarded an honorary knighthood in 1923.
But the fascist had it taken away in 1940 after he sided with Germany to declare war on the UK.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
