King Charles has received public backing after formally revoking the knighthood of former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson.
A local councillor said the monarch made the “right” decision following Donaldson’s conviction for historic sexual abuse offences.
The King approved the cancellation of Donaldson’s knighthood last month, bringing an end to an honour first awarded in 2016 for his political service.
The decision was officially confirmed in a notice published in The Gazette, which announced that the title of Knight Bachelor had been annulled.
Donaldson, who led the Democratic Unionist Party between 2021 and 2024, was found guilty in June 2026 on 18 counts of historic sexual abuse, including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency involving 2 girls over a period spanning more than two decades.
Reacting to the King’s decision, Green Party councillor Emily Kerr said the removal of the honour was appropriate and that Donaldson should face punishment through the courts.
She said a knighthood represents public recognition and should not remain attached to someone convicted of such serious offences.
The revocation followed Donaldson’s own request to surrender both his knighthood and his place on the Privy Council after the guilty verdicts were delivered.
His resignation from the Privy Council was accepted last month, removing him from one of Britain’s oldest constitutional institutions, which serves as a formal advisory body to the Sovereign.
He is no longer entitled to use the title “Sir”, while his wife, Eleanor Donaldson, also loses the courtesy title of “Lady Donaldson.”
2026-08-07 23:40:00
