King Charles has formally stripped former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of his knighthood, just weeks after approving his removal from the Privy Council.
A notice published in The Gazette, the UK’s official public record, confirms that The King has directed the cancellation and annulment of the knighthood conferred on Jeffrey Mark Donaldson in 2016.
The notice states: “The King has directed the cancellation and annulment of the knighthood conferred upon Jeffrey Mark Donaldson on the 11 June 2016 as a Knight Bachelor.”
Donaldson was awarded the honour in Queen Elizabeth II’s Birthday Honours in 2016 for his public service.
The decision follows his conviction in June on 18 counts of historic child sexual abuse, including one count of rape, committed against two women when they were children. Following his conviction, Donaldson requested both his resignation from the Privy Council and the forfeiture of his knighthood.
Earlier this month, King Charles approved Orders removing Donaldson from the Privy Council after he wrote requesting his name be struck from the constitutional body. The Privy Council, one of the oldest institutions in British government, serves as a formal advisory body to the Sovereign, with membership typically granted for life.
The latest decision means Donaldson is no longer entitled to use the title “Sir”, while his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, loses the courtesy title of “Lady Donaldson”.
Under the UK’s honours system, knighthoods and other honours can be forfeited if the recipient is judged to have brought the honours system into disrepute. Recommendations are made by the Honours Forfeiture Committee before being submitted to the Prime Minister, who advises the Sovereign. The final decision is then formally approved by The King.
Donaldson’s legal team has lodged an appeal against his convictions. The appeal process is expected to begin before he is sentenced, although any full hearing is likely to take place at a later date.
