LONDON — British fashion and beauty leading figures — including Charlotte Tilbury, Sandra Cho, Clare Hornby, and David Emanuel, who codesigned the late Princess Diana’s wedding dress, were among the names recognized on King Charles III’s 2026 Birthday Honours List.
The list, published ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday morning in London, follows the king’s 2023 debut honors, which singled out Anna Wintour and Roksanda Ilincic for services to fashion.
Trooping the Colour is a military parade and ceremony that marks the “official” birthday of the monarch, no matter when they were born. The tradition began in 1748, and the event takes place each year in the first half of June.
King Charles III meets Charlotte Tilbury
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Tilbury, founder of her eponymous beauty brand, was honored with a CBE, or Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for her contribution to British beauty.
In April, she was appointed an ambassador and co‑chair of The King’s Trust Global Gala. In her new role, Tilbury will champion the mission of the organization in support of underserved youth, introducing it to her wider audience while forming a collective of supporters and changemakers to help further its impact.
“As an entrepreneur who now leads the biggest British-born beauty empire in the world, I want to empower young people to understand that anything is possible if you think limitlessly and have the confidence to believe in yourself,” she told WWD at the time.
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Choi has been the creative director of Jimmy Choo for three decades, helping cement the label’s position as a key player in red-carpet and luxury fashion. She was made an OBE, or Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for her services to fashion.
“Receiving an OBE is something I never imagined when I began my career. It feels like recognition not just for my own work, but for everyone who has poured their creativity and passion into Jimmy Choo over three decades. Our designs have the power to transform how a woman feels, to give confidence and bring joy. To be honored for that work, by the country I call home, means more than I can express,” said Choi.
John Idol, chairman and chief executive officer of the brand’s parent company Capri Holdings, has told analysts that he believes Jimmy Choo will be an $800 million business over the next few years. The brand reported revenues up 5 percent to $167 million year-over-year in the third quarter, ending December 27, 2025.
Hannah Colman, chief executive officer at Jimmy Choo, lauded Choi as the creative heart of the brand.
“Her vision, her craftsmanship, and her unwavering commitment to the art of design have shaped not just our brand but British fashion itself. This honor is richly deserved and a source of immense pride for everyone at Jimmy Choo. We congratulate her wholeheartedly,” she added.
Victoria Starmer famously wore a dress from ME+EM on her first day at Downing Street.
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Hornby is the founder and CEO of Me+Em. The label, which was given a royal warrant by Queen Camilla earlier this year, has built a business around elevated, “intelligent” wardrobe pieces and a direct-to-consumer model that targets a global, professional clientele.
“I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be honored. I feel very fortunate to be able to represent British fashion to a global audience,” Hornby said of her appointment as an OBE.
The late Princess Diana, wearing a wedding dress by David Emanuel, with the then-Prince of Wales
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Emanuel’s recognition, more than four decades after Diana’s 1981 wedding, meanwhile, brings a strong note of royal fashion history to the 2026 list. Last year, Britain’s Channel 5 released a documentary in which Emanuel and his ex-wife Elizabeth recalled an intense three months designing, making, and fitting the wedding gown.
Beyond fashion and beauty, this year’s Birthday Honours also featured a broad range of cultural and public figures, such as photojournalist Don McCullin, broadcaster Anneka Rice, and actress Lisa Riley.
Helen Mirren, who already holds the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, is now a Companion of Honour, a top accolade. She joins figures including Sir Paul Smith, J.K. Rowling, Sir Elton John, and Sir Paul McCartney as a member of the select group of 65 members at any one time.
