By theme
UK New Year and Birthday Honours for Literature
123 people have received a UK honour for Literature in the Birthday and New Year Honours of King Charles III and, before him, the late Queen Elizabeth II. Read the official citation behind each award, and search or filter the recipients below.
Literature - awards over time
All honours associated with this theme, by award tier and year.
Type a name to find someone, or use the filters below to narrow by year, award, list or theme. Selections combine; tap an active filter again, or Clear filters, to reset.
2026
Officer (OBE)
Peter John James
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2026
Pulborough, West Sussex
“Author. For services to Literature and to Charity”
Richard Thomas Osman
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2026
London, Greater London
“Author and Television Presenter. For services to Literature and Broadcasting”
Knight / Dame
Meera Syal
PersonDame Commander Order Of The British Empire · 2026
London, Greater London
“Comedian, Writer and Actor. For services to Literature, to Drama and to Charity”
Julia Catherine Donaldson
PersonDame Commander Order Of The British Empire · 2026
Horsham, West Sussex
“Writer. For services to Literature”
Malorie Blackman
PersonDame Commander Order Of The British Empire · 2026
London, Greater London
“Writer. For services to Literature”
2025
Member (MBE)
Alistair Murray Moffat
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2025
Selkirk, Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale
“Founder of Borders Book, Lennoxlove Book Festivals and Kelso Arts Festival. For services to Literature and Culture”
Richard O?neill
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2025
Bury, Greater Manchester
“Founder, Richard O'Neill Storytelling, Author, and Creative Lead, Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books, UK. For services to Education and to Literature”
Commander (CBE)
Knight / Dame
Alan James Hollinghurst
PersonKnight Bachelor · 2025
London, Greater London
“Author. For services to Literature”
Patricia Margaret Barker
PersonDame Commander Order Of The British Empire · 2025
Durham, County Durham
“Author. For services to Literature”
Caroline Michel
PersonDame Commander Order Of The British Empire · 2025
London, Greater London
“Literary Agent and Chair, Hay Festival. For services to Publishing and Literature”
Jacqueline Wilson
PersonDame Grand Cross Of The Order Of The British Empire · 2025
Polegate, East Sussex
“Author. For services to Literature”
2024
Member (MBE)
Sarah Hosking
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2024
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
“For services to Literature and to the Arts”
Diana Mary Speirs
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2024
London, Greater London
“Audio Executive Editor for Books, BBC. For services to Broadcasting and to Literature”
Susan Dent
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2024
London, Greater London
“Lexicographer, Etymologist and Author. For services to Literature and to Language”
Officer (OBE)
Joseph Aaron Coelho
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2024
Folkestone, Kent
“Children's Laureate. For services to the Arts, to Children's Reading and to Literature”
Richard Denis Paul Charkin
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2024
London, Greater London
“Lately President, International Publishers Association. For services to Publishing and Literature”
Jennifer Ann Brown
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2024
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
“Literary Agent. For services to Literature”
Charles Piers Mackesy
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2024
London, Greater London
“Artist, Illustrator and Author. For services to Art and Literature”
Commander (CBE)
Monica Ali
PersonCommander Order Of The British Empire · 2024
London, Greater London
“Writer. For services to Literature”
Andrew David Mark Pettegree
PersonCommander Order Of The British Empire · 2024
St Andrews, Fife
“Historian and Author. For services to Literature”
Katherine Louise Mosse
PersonCommander Order Of The British Empire · 2024
Chichester, West Sussex
“Author. For services to Literature, to Women and to Charity”
Jung Chang
PersonCommander Order Of The British Empire · 2024
London, Greater London
“Author. For services to Literature and to History”
Knight / Dame
Niall Campbell Ferguson
PersonKnight Bachelor · 2024
Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan
“Historian and Author. For services to Literature”
Professor Alexander Mccall Smith
PersonKnight Bachelor · 2024
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
“Author and Academic. For services to Literature, to Academia and to Charity”
Jilly Cooper
PersonDame Commander Order Of The British Empire · 2024
Stroud, Gloucestershire
“Author. For services to Literature and to Charity”
2023
Medal / BEM
Anthony Robert Ellis
PersonBritish Empire Medal · 2023
King's Lynn, Norfolk
“Co-Founder, Kings Lynn Literature Festivals. For services to Literature”
Harriet Mary Margaret Cullen
PersonBritish Empire Medal · 2023
London, Greater London
“Trustee, Keats-Shelley Memorial Association. For services to Literature”
Member (MBE)
Janet Sally Zmroczek
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2023
London, Greater London
“Lately Head, European and Americas Collections, British Library. For services to Literature and to Heritage”
Hazel Wood
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2023
London, Greater London
“Co-Founder and Editor, Slightly Foxed. For services to Literature”
Gail Fiona Pirkis
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2023
Newton Abbot, Devon
“Co-Founder and Editor, Slightly Foxed. For services to Literature”
Helena Whitbread
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2023
Elland, West Yorkshire
“Historian and Editor. For services to History and to Literature”
Francesca Isabella Simon
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2023
London, Greater London
“Writer. For services to Literature”
Officer (OBE)
Stuart Proffitt
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2023
London, Greater London
“Editor and Publisher, Penguin. For services to Literature”
Kimberley Griffith Reynolds
PersonOfficer Order Of The British Empire · 2023
Lewes, East Sussex
“Author and Professor of Children's Literature, Newcastle University. For services to Literature”
Commander (CBE)
William Benedict Hamilton-Dalrymple
PersonCommander Order Of The British Empire · 2023
London, Greater London
“Historian, Author and Art Curator. For services to Literature and to the Arts”
Anthony John Valerian Cheetham
PersonCommander Order Of The British Empire · 2023
Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
“Publisher. For services to Literature”
Ian Russell McEWAN
PersonCompanion Order Of The Companions Of Honour · 2023
Gloucestershire
“Novelist and Screenwriter. For services to Literature”
2022
Member (MBE)
Syima Aslam
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2022
Bradford, West Yorkshire
“Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director, Bradford Literature Festival. For services to Literature”
Daljit Nagra
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2022
London, Greater London
“Chair, Royal Society of Literature. For services to Literature”
Sandeep Mahal
PersonMember Order Of The British Empire · 2022
Walsall, West Midlands
“Lately Director, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature. For services to Literature, the Arts and Culture in Nottingham”