Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield has been knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours for raising more than £11m for motor neurone disease (MND) charities after his former Leeds Rhinos teammate Rob Burrow was diagnosed in 2019. During a marathon in 2023, Sinfield pushed Burrow in a wheelchair before carrying him over the finish line. Burrow died a year later. “I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this award on behalf of the rugby and MND communities,” said Sir Kevin. Lindsey Burrow, Rob’s widow, added: “To have a champion like Kevin in their corner means so much.”
Six Lionesses who won Euro 2025 were appointed MBEs, including Chloe Kelly, who scored the decisive penalty in the final against Spain, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who saved two penalties in that shootout. Also honoured were Alessia Russo, Jess Carter, Lauren James and Michelle Agyemang. At 20, Agyemang is the youngest recipient on the list. Several other England players and staff had been recognised in the New Year Honours.
“Kevin Sinfield knighted, Lionesses made MBEs, and authors Blackman and Donaldson dames in King’s Birthday Honours.”
Children’s authors Malorie Blackman and Julia Donaldson were made dames for services to literature. Their best-known works, Noughts & Crosses and The Gruffalo, have been adapted for screen. Actress Dame Helen Mirren was made a Companion of Honour, a title limited to 65 holders at any one time. The founders of the animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit, Peter Lord and David Sproxton, were knighted. Broadcaster Anneka Rice received an MBE and Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews an OBE.
Among those honoured for community and charity work were Deborah Lewis and Constance McCready, who set up support groups for families who lost relatives during the pandemic, both appointed MBEs. James Brown, founder of Lifesavers Scotland, which transports blood for the NHS, also received an MBE. He said he brought his mother from Scotland to London on false pretences to keep the secret: “I came up with an elaborate lie about how we were going down for her birthday.”