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Swedish billionaires Lisbet and Hans Kristian Rausing, former Conservative politician Penny Mordaunt and heir to JCB construction equipment empire Jo Bamford have all received awards in King Charles III’s birthday honours list.
The Rausings — children of the Swedish mogul who made his fortune developing the Tetra Pak food-packaging company — were given a knighthood and a damehood for their services to the arts. Successors to their late father’s multibillion-dollar empire, they are both philanthropists based in the UK.
Mordaunt was made a dame for her political and public service, after the former leader of the House of Commons lost her seat in Portsmouth North in last year’s general election.
The King’s birthday honours list is an annual list of awards for notable achievements and public service contributions, vetted by committees made up of senior civil servants and independent members.
“From community champions to cultural icons, each recipient reflects the very best of Britain”, said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.”
Celebrity and sports personalities on the list included former footballer David Beckham, Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman and Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, who received knighthoods, and musical theatre actress Elaine Paige, who was named a dame.
In business, heir to the JCB construction equipment empire Jo Bamford — who in 2021 launched a green hydrogen investment fund HyCap — was awarded a CBE for services to innovating the clean hydrogen economy.
The list also recognised Microsoft UK chief executive Clare Barclay with a damehood and Lockheed Martin UK CEO Paul Livingston with a CBE.
Michelle Scrimgeour, former head of Legal & General, was awarded a CBE for her services to the asset management industry, while Christian Salbaing, deputy chair of Hutchison Whampoa in Europe, was made CBE for his services to investment.
Douglas Perkins, co-founder of high street opticians giant Specsavers, was made a CBE for services to business and trade. His wife and business partner Mary Perkins was made a dame in 2007.
In hospitality, Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie was recognised with a CBE for her services after the UK’s largest bakery chain, known for its low-cost meals, saw a surge in sales growth amid the cost of living crisis.
The Cabinet Office said 581 women had been recognised in the list this year, representing 48 per cent of the total. Just 11 per cent of the successful candidates have come from an ethnic minority background.
Services to the economy and finance saw Nationwide Building Society chief executive Deborah Crosbie awarded a damehood and Danske Bank UK head Vicky Davies awarded an OBE.
Among the more than 1,000 other people recognised in the list was Antony Gormley, the London-born sculptor behind the Angel of the North, who was made a Companion of Honour.
Emma Bridgewater, known as Britain’s queen of pottery for her eponymous company making handmade ceramics, was made a dame.
In the media, former Guardian economics editor Lawrence Elliott, Sky chief executive Dana Strong and the BBC’s Martha Kearney were all made CBEs.
