King Charles’ birthday honor list includes the biggest names of British sports.
From David Beckham, arguably the most famous footballer of them, and Virginia Wade, the British tennis legend, to the two Olympic gold medal winners Alistair Brownlee and darts genius Luke Rittler, ESPN breaks down some of the recognized key names.
Knights
William “Billy” Boston
Boston was awarded the first knights in the rugby league in the 130-year history of the sport.
One of the most famous faces in rugby league and a pioneer of black sportsmen in the 1950s and ’60s, Boston made 488 appearances for Wigan in 478 incredible trials.
The Cardiff-born Wing became the first non-white player to be selected for the UK Rugby Lie Grays Tour in 1954.
David Beckham
The long waiting period for Manchester United and the Order of British legend Beckham has finally come to an end.
One of the most famous faces in football, Beckham made his United debut in 1992, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League during his time with the club. He became one of England’s greats, earning 115 senior caps. Of these, 59 are captains.
Beckham also performed Galacticos Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo made a pioneering move towards Lagaraksy in Major League Soccer. He ended his European career with spells at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
CBES
Virgin Wade
Wade, the latest British woman to win a three-time major winner and Wimbledon (1977), won a CBE from King Charles.
OBES
Deta Headman
Born in Kingston, Jamaica and known as the “center of darts”, Deta Hedman is a two-time world master winner and three-time Dutch open champion.
Alistair Brownlee
Brownlee is the only athlete to hold two Olympic titles in individual triathlon events, winning gold in London in 2012 and in Rio in 2016.
The four-time Triathlon World Champion retired last November at the age of 36.
Monica Vaughn
Vaughn, one of the UK’s most successful Paralympic swimmers, won five gold medals in a 1976 match in Toronto. She received an OBE at the age of 73.
Devon Malcolm
Malcolm was one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket at his time, with 40 Test matches and 10 one-day internationals under his belt.
He began his career in Derbyshire before retiring in Leicestershire in 2003, finishing with over 1,000 first-class wickets.
Grandchild
Luke Ritler
A teenage sense, Luke Rittler became the youngest winner of the Darts World Championships in January at the age of 17.
He won the 2024 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and was runner-up at the 2025 Main Awards.
Luke Humphreys
Luke Humphries, the winner of Reigning Orld No. 1 and 2024 Darts World Championship, is the fourth man in the sport to win the prestigious “Triple Crown.”
He defeated Littler in the 2024 World Championship final.
Rachel gave it
Aston Villa Forward is a member of the iconic English Women’s Squad that won the Euro 2022 in his hometown soil.
After passing the ranks of Leeds United, Daly appeared in all the UK games at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. She announced her retirement from England in April 2024.
Andy Raptone
Wheelchair tennis player Andy Raptone is a 17-time Grand Slam winner in singles and doubles, and has won four Paralympic medals.
Natasha Jonas
One of Liverpool’s finest exports and British boxing pioneer Jonas was the first British woman to compete and win at the 2012 Olympics.
She went on to become the double-heavy world champion, holding a unified WBC and WBO belt in the women’s light middleweight division.
Stephen Davis
Stephen Davis has recorded over 14,000 first-class runs in a 20-year prominent career in Worcestershire, Surrey and Somerset. He also played eight ODIs and five T20s in England.
David “Sid” Lawrence
Born in Gloucester to Jamaican parents Lawrence, Lawrence won over 500 wickets in 185 Gloucestershire first-class appearances, and 22 international wickets for the UK in five Test matches and one ODI. He was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2024.
Michael Dunlop
Northern Ireland motorcycle racer Dunlop holds a record of victory and podium counts on the famous Human Island. Known as “Raging Bull,” he is the winner of 124 road races.
Trish Johnson
Born in Bristol, Johnson has had a variety of successes in his nearly 40 years of golf career. Her two LPGA Championships and the open success of senior US women have solidified her as one of the most successful British people in women’s golf.
