actor Idris Elba may not be the next James Bond, but he has added a prestigious new title to his name. The star was one of several celebrities honored at Windsor Castle, where King Charles officially knighted him during a ceremony.
Idris Elba knighted by King Charles
The actor received one of the highest honors, not for his acting ability, but for his service towards the youth. On June 2, King Charles knighted the actor, activist and musician at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Idris, 53, received a knighthood for services to youth.
King Charles, 77, honored the Hijack star by hitting a sword on his shoulder as he knelt. A photo of this moment has appeared on the official Instagram grid of the royal family. The post’s caption read: “Congratulations to all who were honored at today’s investiture ceremony hosted by The King at Windsor Castle.”
Idris reposted the special post on his Instagram Stories. “We are grateful. The work continues,” the actor wrote on another photo, which showed the actor wearing his medal on the palace grounds and holding hands with his wife Sabrina Elba.
Idris tagged Sabrina’s Instagram and the handles of the Elba Hope Foundation, the charity the couple co-founded in 2022 to support migrant communities and create more opportunities. The organization partners with local leaders and institutions to address youth unemployment, education gaps, and food insecurity.
It also sheds light on why Idris was absent from the New York premiere of his upcoming film, Masters of the Universe, where the rest of the cast came to promote the project.
The actor, musician and activist, a lifelong fan of Arsenal Soccer Club, also posted a video on Instagram, which shows him jumping up and down, holding a new Arsenal jersey with “SIR ELBA” written on it.
More about Idris’s royal tour
The knighthood ceremony marked Idris’s second meeting with King Charles in a matter of weeks. The actor recently attended a garden party Buckingham Palace amid his work with the King’s Trust. Idris is also a Goodwill Ambassador for The King’s Trust and credits his start in the arts to a grant he received from the royal charity at the age of 18.
Idris’s knighthood was announced in King Charles’s 2026 New Year Honors list, and the moment was made official at the investiture ceremony. In January, Idris spoke to People about his knighthood at the Season 2 Hijack premiere, sharing, “I haven’t really talked about it, but I will say it’s a real honor to be recognized for the work I’ve done especially for young people and trying to make as much noise as possible for what some of them are going through. So it feels like an honor. My family is honored by it. I don’t even know how to talk about it.” “Do it.”
Along with Idris, figure skating pair Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean received damehoods and knighthoods, actor/writer Meera Syal received damehoods, entertainer Paul Elliot received the honor of MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), and Betty Browne received the honor of OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her services to justice.