King Charles revokes Donaldson's knighthood

King Charles has stripped former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson of his knighthood following his conviction last month on historic child sex abuse charges. The formal annulment was recorded in an official notice published on Thursday, July 23, 2026, in The Gazette, one of the United Kingdom's official journals of record.

The notice from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood stated that the King directed the cancellation of the knighthood conferred upon Donaldson on June 11, 2016. The move came after Donaldson, who is currently held on remand at Maghaberry Prison, wrote to request the forfeiture of his honour and his resignation from the Privy Council. His name was removed from the advisory body earlier this month.

Donaldson, a veteran unionist politician who served as MP for Lagan Valley from 1997 until 2024, was found guilty by a jury in June at Newry Crown Court in Northern Ireland. He was convicted of 18 sexual offences, including one count of assault, against two women. The abuse occurred when the victims were children, spanning the period between 1985 and 2008. Donaldson had denied all charges.

The trial judge has indicated Donaldson faces a...