DARTS world champion Luke “The Nuke” Littler has been made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.
The kebab-loving arrows ace became the youngest world champion at 17 years and 347 days earlier this year.
He has raised the sport’s profile with millions of youngsters.
Slow Horses star Gary Oldman, 67, is given a knighthood recognising his incredible career in TV and films.
Here’s how the awards were divided up among the wider spectrum of British life, from sport to showbiz and business…
SPORT
Darts champs given MBEs
DARTS is celebrating a double top in the King’s Birthday Honours after world champion Luke Littler and Humphries become MBEs.
The arrows aces — more used to Ally Pally than Buckingham Palace — have massively boosted the sport’s profile.
Kebab fan Luke “The Nuke” Littler, 18, became the youngest world champion at 17 years and 347 days in January.
Humphries, 30, pipped him in the 2024 PDC final.
Deta Hedman, the first black woman to play at the worlds in 2020 and who has won titles in each of the past five decades, is an OBE.
Last week The Sun revealed David Beckham had been awarded a knighthood after years of waiting. In a statement yesterday he called the honour “truly humbling”.
He said: “It’ll take a while to sink in but I’m immensely proud and it’s such an emotional moment for me to share with my family.”
Billy Boston, 90, is the first rugby league player to receive a knighthood in its 130 years.
Wimbledon champ Virginia Wade is made a CBE.
Two-time Olympic triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee is made an OBE.
Rachel Daly, part of the Euro 2022-winning Lionesses is made an MBE.
The Aston Villa star said: “This award is for everyone who has supported me.”
In cricket, England pace bowler Devon Malcolm becomes an OBE.
Wicketkeeper Steven Davies has been made an MBE, as has bowler David Lawrence, who took 625 wickets for Gloucestershire.
Monica Vaughan, ten-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist, becomes an OBE.
Andy Lapthorne, a 17-time grand slam champion in wheelchair tennis, is an MBE.
The same honour goes to boxer Natasha Jonas, motorcyclist Michael Dunlop, golfer Trish Johnson and gymnastics commentator Christine Still.
PM Sir Keir Starmer said: “Each recipient reflects the very best of Britain. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to them all.”
SHOWBIZ & CHARITY
It’s Knight service for Sir Gary
ACTOR Gary Oldman who plays the shambling but razor-sharp spy boss in Slow Horses is knighted.
The Londoner, 67, was the only major-category Oscar winner yet to be honoured.
Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman — favourites of Queen Camilla — get MBEs.
Tess said: “This came as the greatest surprise of my life.
“I don’t think I’ve come back down to earth.”
Claudia, who also fronts The Traitors, added: “I will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.”
The Who rocker Roger Daltrey is knighted for work with the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Love Island’s Georgia Harrison gets an MBE for campaigning on tackling violence against women. Her ex Stephen Bear was jailed for sharing a sex tape.
West End star Elaine Paige and novelist Pat Barker have been given damehoods.
Actresses Anita Dobson and Samantha Morton get OBEs.
Angel of the North sculptor Sir Antony Gormley is a Companion of Honour.
Three family members receive British Empire Medals for Calum’s Cabin, a charity which provides holiday homes for children facing cancer.
Duncan Caroline and Jenna Speirs, from Bute, Scotland, said the idea was started by Calum, Jenna’s twin, who had an inoperable brain tumour at 12 and died in 2006.
Jenna said: “Calum spoke to children who’d never seen the sea, or been on a ferry.
“It’s special for us to be honoured together.”
Alison Magdin and daughter Carly Barrett who have fought to end knife crime in the North East, following the death of their daughter and sister Samantha, get MBEs.
The youngest Honours recipient is 11-year-old Carmela Chillery-Watson MBE, who fundraises despite a life-limiting muscle-wasting condition.
WAR HERO
Arnhem survivor Geoff, 99, bags accolade
A SURVIVOR of doomed Operation Market Garden in World War Two has been made an MBE.
Geoff Roberts, 99, has returned more than 60 times to Arnhem in the Netherlands to mark the battle in 1944 where more than 1,700 Brits died.
Every time, he has visited the graves of his two best pals who took part in the nine-day airborne invasion immortalised in the film A Bridge Too Far.
He was the only survivor last year from the 3,500 who took part who was fit enough to return.
Geoff, a Private in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, said: “We failed, and the people of Arnhem paid a heavy price for us trying to liberate them — but they’re still thanking us after all this time.”
Geoff, of Peterborough, received his gong for services to the commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem and to charity.
- By Mike Ridley
POLITICS
Borders boss gets rewarded
BORDER Force’s boss is getting a gong — despite a record number of small boat migrants arriving this year so far.
Director general Philip Douglas becomes a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), given to the military and civil service figures.
The honours also include a damehood for former MP and Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, who had a key role in the King’s coronation when she presented the Sword of State to the monarch.
The former Defence Secretary said it was “lovely to be appreciated in this way”.
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