The King’s New Year’s Honours List has been unveiled tonight (December 30), including actors, musicians and lesser-known community heroes.
Each year, a list of people gets compiled following recommendations from the prime minister, senior government ministers and members of the public.
Special honours are given to people who make outstanding contributions to their community and the country, with the New Year Honours acknowledging more than 1,200 people in the UK this year.
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Actor Stephen Fry, former England manager Gareth Southgate and London mayor Sadiq Khan have been knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours.
Some other famous names on the list include Team GB athlete Keely Hodgkinson, creator of The Tracy Beaker series Jacqueline Wilson, actress Carey Mulligan and television presenter Alan Titchmarsh.
However there are also hundreds of community heroes, charity champions and campaigners who have also been recognised for raising awareness around a particular issue.
Nick Gazzard, father of Hollie Gazzard
A father whose daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend has spoken of his honour after being made an OBE for his work in tackling violence against women.
Nick Gazzard, 60, set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust after her death in 2014 and has dedicated his life’s work to helping those affected by domestic abuse and stalking.
Nick Gazzard pictured with his daughter Hollie -Credit:Nick Gazzard/PA Wire
Mr Gazzard, from Gloucester, said being made an OBE in the New Year Honours was also recognition of the work trustees, staff, volunteers and donors had given to the Hollie Gazzard Trust.
He said: “Receiving an OBE is an incredible privilege and an honour. I’m truly humbled to have received this news, but it is a recognition I share with everyone who has supported the Hollie Gazzard Trust over the last decade.
“From staff, trustees, volunteers, and sponsors, through to supporters and donors. My heartfelt thank you.”
Hollie, 20, was murdered by her ex-partner in 2014 while working at a hair salon in Gloucester. She was stabbed to death just four days after she ended their year-long relationship, during which she suffered repeated violence at his hands.
The Trust set up in her memory has created the Hollie Guard app, which uses a number of safeguarding features designed to help those in a threatening situation.
David Mearns, shipwreck hunter
A shipwreck hunter who has been made an OBE has said he hopes an anchor from the boat that brought the first Windrush generation to the UK will be recovered in the next year or so.
David Mearns, a marine scientist and oceanographer based in Midhurst, West Sussex, told the PA news agency that recognition for services to locating and recovering historic shipwrecks in the New Year Honours may boost the mission.
Marine Scientist David Mearns -Credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
The Windrush Anchor Foundation has been set up to recover the 1.5-tonne anchor and bring it back to the UK to go on permanent display, and US-born Mr Mearns said around £2 million is needed. He hopes the project will happen in 2026, saying next summer is “probably too early”.
Mr Mearns said he has located 29 major shipwrecks.
On his honour, he said: “I grew up as an American and things like this don’t happen to us, so that’s something to get used to.
“I’m very proud that my work is being recognised, and also what I do is so unusual, it’s an atypical career, and so it’s nice for my line of work to be recognised this way.”
Carole Gould and Julie Devey, grieving mothers
Two women whose daughters were murdered by their ex-partners are being honoured for campaigning to tackle male violence.
Carole Gould and Julie Devey, co-founders of Killed Women, a group supporting families affected by male violence, have been made Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours.
They began campaigning after their daughters, Ellie Gould and Poppy Devey Waterhouse, were murdered in their homes by young men after they ended relationships with them.
Carole Gould (right) and Julie Devey have been made OBE for their work campaigning against male violence -Credit:Killed Women/PA Wire
Ms Gould and Ms Devey said in a statement: “By accepting the OBEs it will continue to shine a light on our campaigning and will keep the many unjust issues surrounding violence against women and girls in the spotlight.
“Getting this far has been really hard and emotionally draining and, of course, will not bring our darling daughters back, but as we learn more and more about the injustices, and more and more families reach out to us, we are fired up to continue our work.”
Ms Gould’s daughter, Ellie, 17, was stabbed to death at her home in Calne, Wiltshire, in 2019, by her boyfriend, Thomas Griffiths, after she ended their relationship. Griffiths then staged the scene to make it appear as though she had inflicted the fatal wounds herself.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12 years and six months.
Poppy, 24, was murdered by her ex-partner, Joe Atkinson, in Leeds in 2018, after the end of their three-year relationship. Atkinson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years and 310 days.
Sir Andy Cooke, Chief Constable
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, Sir Andy Cooke, has been recognised in the New Year Honours list.
Over nearly four decades, Sir Andy rose to the top of policing, tackling serious organised crime and leading major reforms.
After being given a knighthood for services to policing and public service, he said: “Making communities safer has been my life’s work, and this recognition is a testament to the incredible people I’ve been lucky enough to work with throughout my career.”
Nationally, Sir Andy led efforts to combat serious organised crime and he played a key role in creating the UK’s first nationwide witness protection service.
Andy Cooke, who has been made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours list -Credit:Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire
He now leads the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, which inspects and reports on police and fire services in England and Wales.
Sir Andy said: “I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported me throughout my career and my family, who have always stood by my side. This honour belongs as much to them as it does to me.”
Wendy Tarplee-Morris, co-founder of the Little Princess Trust
A bereaved mother who created a charity to provide wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment has been recognised in the New Year Honours. Wendy Tarplee-Morris co-founded the Little Princess Trust after losing her daughter, Hannah Tarplee, to cancer in 2005.
Hannah’s hair loss during treatment was “very traumatic” and her parents searched “high and low” to find a suitable wig for her, according to the charity. After Hannah died, her parents set up the charity in her memory.
The charity has since provided nearly 18,000 real-hair wigs to children and young people with hair loss from cancer treatment and other conditions. People can donate hair to be made into wigs, with the charity requesting people to donate at least 12 inches of hair where possible.
Wendy Tarplee-Morris, one of the co-founders of The Little Princess Trust
Ms Tarplee-Morris said that she was “honoured” to be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) but said she would never forget the “huge personal trauma” of losing her daughter. She was made MBE for services to children and young people with cancer.
“I am honoured to receive this recognition, but I can never forget the huge personal trauma and how it affected my family having lost Hannah, but I am so aware of how many families are still being affected by childhood cancer today,” she said. “This is what drives us on to do more, so I would like to accept this honour on behalf of all the families affected by childhood cancer.”
In 2004, Hannah was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour, a type of kidney cancer that mainly affects young children. She died in 2005 when she was five years old.
Joeli Brearley, parental rights campaigner
A parental rights campaigner has said being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) is “important recognition” of the struggles faced by working families. Joeli Brearley, who founded Pregnant Then Screwed, said she was “really surprised” but “delighted” to be included in the New Year Honours list.
The charity campaigns for improved maternity rights, better parental leave, and support for working parents, especially women, facing challenges such as workplace discrimination.
Joeli Brearley, founder and CEO of Pregnant Then Screwed -Credit:Pregnant Then Screwed/PA Wire
On being recognised for services to working families, Ms Brearley told the PA news agency: “That’s what it’s about, that’s what it’s always been about. And I think that people don’t really understand how much working families are in need of support right now.
“It’s particularly gratifying that those words are in there because working families are really struggling, really struggling right now, particularly those with young children. The childcare crisis, the issues of parental leave, low-paid work, there’s just so many problems.
“To have this recognition that is an award from the royal family, that shows how important it is to support families right now, who are in work, feels really, really pleasing and a really important recognition of the problems that they’re experiencing.”
Ms Brearley, who is stepping down as the head of Pregnant Then Screwed after 10 years in the role, said she hopes the recognition will help attract “desperately needed” funding.
She highlighted key achievements, including changes to flexible working laws, improved redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mothers, and influencing billions of pounds in childcare investment.
Bill Wright, infected blood campaigner
A campaigner who has been recognised in the New Year Honours for his work on the infected blood scandal has said he hopes it highlights “this story is not over”. Bill Wright was chairman of Haemophilia Scotland for 12 years until he stood down in August, and he was described as the “driving force” behind its representation at the Infected Blood Inquiry and the prior Penrose Inquiry in Scotland.
More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with deadly viruses after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s in the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. Some 3,000 people died as a result and survivors are living with lifelong health implications.
Mr Wright, who himself was diagnosed with Hepatitis C after being given an infected blood product in 1986, becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the honours list for services to people with bleeding disorders and to the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Bill Wright who has been made an OBE -Credit:PA
The 66-year-old said of his honour: “The main thing I’m particularly pleased about is the recognition for the issues that I’ve been involved in, which was the infected blood disaster which in particular seriously affected the community of people with bleeding disorders.
“That story continues and I think it’s really important to emphasise that this story is not over. The recommendations of the public inquiry into infected blood are yet to be really met and that includes for example compensation to thousands of individuals, and that is taking a lot of time.
“In a sense I feel that my own award or recognition does mean there has been both public and government recognition of the issues it raised. I welcome it, but there are many others who have campaigned on this issue who probably equally deserve some sort of recognition as well.”
Mr Wright, who lives in Dunkeld in Perth and Kinross, worked for environmental and outdoor activity charities before he retired aged 49 due to health issues.
Mikayla Beames, teen charity star
One of the youngest people on the New Year Honours list has urged others her age to get involved in “rewarding” charitable causes. Mikayla Beames, 18, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) after founding Team Mikayla following her cancer diagnosis aged four.
The charity grants the wishes of children suffering from cancer and has raised more than £300,000 to do so.
Mikayla Beames (centre) alongside her parents Natasha and Ian -Credit:James Manning/PA Wire
Ms Beames, from Wantage, Oxfordshire, told the PA news agency: “It’s mad (to be one of the youngest recipients) it doesn’t seem real, it’s absolutely amazing.” Asked what advice she would give to other young people considering charity work, she said: “Do it, it’s so rewarding and knowing that you can make a difference to others is amazing.”
Ms Beames recollected making a young boy a “knight for the day” by sending him to Warwick Castle, saying it was “amazing” to see the pictures of him.
She went on: “(Being honoured) is an utter shock. I was surprised. My mum actually read it out to me … I couldn’t believe it. It’s the whole world, you don’t expect to be recognised with such a big award.”
Since 2014, Team Mikayla has granted 220 wishes to children who are fighting cancer, distributing more than 1,000 Christmas presents.
Nathaniel Dye, terminal cancer patient
A music teacher who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2023 has said he hopes being made an MBE will be a “springboard” for his campaigning work. Nathaniel Dye told the PA news agency he was “absolutely thrilled” to be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours List for his work campaigning for cancer awareness and an improved NHS.
He said: “It was all very exciting, one of those brown envelopes you would expect to have some kind of tax form, but infinitely more exciting.”
The campaigner added: “What would have been nicer is if my elderly father had lived to see it.” Mr Dye said his father, who died earlier this year aged 88, had been “foremost in my mind when I received the letter”.
Nathaniel Dye is cancer awareness campaigner and advocate for an improved NHS -Credit:PA
Since receiving his diagnosis of stage 4 bowel cancer, 39-year-old Mr Dye, from east London, has raised more than £37,000 for Macmillan through challenges such as walking from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and running the London Marathon while playing the trombone. He has also urged more people to learn the signs of cancer and see their doctor early if they are experiencing symptoms, saying he waited too long to take action in his own case.
Mr Dye said he planned to continue “being useful” after being made an MBE, and “trying to do as much living as I can”, including releasing an album. He told PA: “The way I see the is: what if it’s a springboard to something else? Maybe this will get people listening to me a bit more. Being a dying man, it doesn’t necessarily get you a yes, but it gets you a listening.”
He has also become involved in politics since his diagnosis, calling for improvements to cancer care after experience a 15-week wait to start treatment. In 2023 he introduced his MP, then-shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, at the Labour Party conference and this year spoke at the launch of Labour’s election manifesto.
Medical staff who cared for the Royal Family
The King has personally honoured senior staff from his medical team during his treatment for cancer.
Charles’s GP Dr Douglas Glass, otherwise known as the apothecary to the King, and his physician Professor Richard Leach have been recognised for their personal service to the monarch and the royal family.
The honours come after the King and the Princess of Wales’s double cancer diagnoses this year, with Charles continuing his treatment while resuming near full duties.
Dr Glass served as Queen Elizabeth II’s apothecary. He was already a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) and has now been appointed a Commander by the King.
Awards under the RVO are in the King’s gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.
Prof Leach is a consultant physician at the private King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London, where members of the royal family have been treated for decades, and a consultant physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Trust, where he is clinical director for pulmonary and critical care medicine. He was made a Lieutenant of the RVO.
Subpostmaster campaigners
Leading subpostmaster campaigners have been made Officers of the British Empire for their efforts to help fellow Post Office scandal victims receive full and fair compensation. Lee Castleton, Seema Misra, Chris Head and Jo Hamilton were made OBEs for services to justice, after Sir Alan Bates was knighted earlier this year.
Mr Castleton told the PA news agency it was “wonderful” to be recognised alongside his fellow campaigners, adding: “Sometimes you have to step forward and shout as loud as you can because some of our group aren’t able to do that.”
He said: “I’m very honoured and very proud. Obviously, it’s one of those things where it’s not the end.
“It’s just sad that it’s been prolonged and protracted by the other side and it would be nice to just draw a line under everything with something like this – but onwards and upwards.”
Former Post Office worker Lee Castleton -Credit:Yui Mok/PA Wire
Mr Castleton, from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, was found to have had a £25,000 shortfall at his branch in 2004, and was made bankrupt after he lost his legal battle with the Post Office. His case came under the spotlight in January when it featured heavily in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Mrs Misra was also made an OBE in the New Year Honours, and told PA she hoped it would “give more weight to the fight” for justice and redress. She said: “I wasn’t expecting it but, as we know, the fight is still on. I was very honoured, at least they have realised that the scandal happened. But it is still ongoing, it hasn’t finished yet.”
Mrs Misra, who ran a Post Office in West Byfleet, Surrey, in 2005, but was suspended in 2008, received media attention because she was pregnant and had her baby in prison. She was handed a 15-month prison sentence on her son’s 10th birthday in November 2010, after being accused of stealing £74,000.
Mr Head said that despite the OBE being a “huge honour”, it was a “double-edged sword” as he, with many others, had not yet received full redress. He was falsely accused of stealing more than £80,000 from his branch in West Bolden, near Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, in 2006, before the criminal case against him was dropped.