King Charles has stripped former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg of his MBE after the player admitted abusing his estranged wife over a number of years.
The decision, formally recorded in the official public register of honours, means the award granted to the celebrated full-back for services to rugby has been cancelled and his name removed from the roll of the Order of the British Empire.
Hogg, 33, had been appointed a Member of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2024 New Year Honours list, recognising a career that saw him become one of Scotland’s most decorated rugby internationals.
However, following his criminal conviction, the honour has now been withdrawn on the direction of the King.
A notice published in the Government’s official record stated that the monarch had ordered the award to be “cancelled and annulled” and directed that Hogg’s name be erased from the register of the order.
The development follows Hogg’s guilty plea last year to a domestic abuse charge involving his estranged wife, Gillian. The court heard that over a period of several years he shouted and swore at her and repeatedly sent alarming messages while also monitoring her communications.
In January 2025 the former Scotland captain was sentenced to a community payback order, which included a year of supervision.
Hogg had received the MBE for his services to rugby after a career in which he amassed more than 100 caps for Scotland and represented the British and Irish Lions on three tours. Widely regarded as one of Scotland’s finest attacking players, he also ranks among the country’s leading try scorers.
He stepped away from international rugby in 2023 after three years as Scotland captain, later returning briefly to professional club rugby with the French side Montpellier before suffering a serious Achilles injury in 2025.
The honours forfeiture follows calls for Hogg to lose the award after details of the domestic abuse case emerged. Removal of an honour is rare and follows scrutiny by the Honours Forfeiture Committee before formal approval by the monarch.
In the same round of decisions, nine individuals in total were stripped of honours.
Hogg has previously spoken about the turmoil surrounding the end of his playing career, saying he had struggled with his mental health and relied heavily on medication and alcohol during a difficult period in his personal life.
Reflecting on the past, he said he had hurt people and was trying to change his behaviour, describing the experience as a turning point that forced him to confront the consequences of his actions.
