Actor Idris Elba was close to missing a once-in-a-lifetime honor. King Charles reached out to him by letter asking if he would accept a knighthood.
This past December, King Charles’ 2026 New Year’s Honours list revealed that Idris received a Knighthood for servicing young people. The honor recognized his work as an activist, actor and musician.
Idris Elba opened up about the incident with King Charles during The Graham Norton Show
However, on the January 16 episode of Graham Norton, Idris admitted that he almost unintentionally bypassed the knighthood. The Hijack star explained a mail mix up almost resulted in missing the honor.
“It’s a bit embarrassing. I was sent a consideration letter asking whether I would or wouldn’t accept it, but I didn’t see it as it got lost in a pile of post,” he said, according to the Daily Mail. “My agent told me that if I didn’t accept it would pass me by. By the time I found the letter, I had only two days to decide.”
After receiving the letter, Idris immediately accepted the knighthood, which was announced in the latest New Year Honours List. “I got it for services to young people and I was thinking, ‘Hang on a minute, that’s great, but I’ve been acting for 30 years!’ It is actually a great honor, and my mum is so pleased,” Idris said.
The actor’s knighthood recognizes his launch of high-profile initiatives for youth empowerment and anti-knife crime. It is also due to his work with the Elba Hope Foundation, which he cofounded with his wife Sabrina in 2022. The organization supports diaspora communities and creates greater opportunities.
Idris, who has met the King numerous times, credits his career to a grant from the King’s charity, The Prince’s Trust. He received the grant when he was 18, and this enabled him to attend the UK’s notable National Youth Music Theatre. The Prince’s Trust was renamed The King’s Trust when Charles ascended to the throne in 2022. More than one million young people have benefited from the Trust since 1976. Idris now serves as its Goodwill Ambassador.
TELL US – SHOULD IDRIS HAVE A BETTER SYSTEM TO MANAGE HIS MAIL?
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