United Kingdom

Knight Bachelor

An appointment rather than a Royal Order. Holders use the title Sir. The Cabinet Office notes it is open to men only. GOV.UK describes a knighthood as recognising a major contribution in any activity, usually at national level.^1,2

Country

United Kingdom

Established

Medieval origin (no founding date given by the Cabinet Office)¹

Conferred by

The Sovereign. Where forfeited, a knighthood is cancelled and annulled by Letters Patent under the Great Seal³

How announced

New Year and Birthday Honours lists published in The London Gazette. Cancellations appear as Crown Office notices in The Gazette.

Revocation

Only the monarch can remove an honour, acting on ministerial advice from the Honours Forfeiture Committee via the Prime Minister. The main test is whether the holder has brought the honours system into disrepute. A knighthood is cancelled and annulled by Letters Patent under the Great Seal, as with Fred Goodwin on 1 February 2012.^4,3,5

Grades

• Knight Bachelor (single grade, no post-nominal letters)

Notable holders on this record

• Fred Goodwin RevokedKnight Bachelor 25 November 2004

Official page: honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/orders-and-medals/

Sources

1. Cabinet Office Honours and Appointments Secretariat, Orders and medals
2. GOV.UK (Cabinet Office), Types of honours and awards (15 September 2026)
3. The London Gazette, Crown Office notice, issue 60048 (1 February 2012)
4. House of Commons Library, Honours: refusal and removal
5. Cabinet Office (GOV.UK), Goodwin knighthood decision (31 January 2012)