The 30-year-old Olympian announced earlier this week that he was retiring from professional sports, meaning the final Paris games will be his final Olympic competition.
The father-of-two recently won their fifth Olympic medal, marking a spectacular end to their professional diving career.
Speaking to Vogue about his retirement announcement, Daley said: “I was really nervous knowing it was my last Olympics.
“There’s a lot of pressure and expectations. I really want to finish.
“But when I came out, and saw my wife and my kids and my friends and family in the audience, I was like, you know what? This is exactly why I’m doing this.
“It was emotional at the end, on top of the platform, knowing it was going to be my last competitive dive.
“But I had to make a decision at some point and it felt like the time was right. It was the right time to call it a day.”
According to The Times, Daley is on track to receive the royal honour, which will give divers the title of ‘sir’.
By the time he receives his OBE in 2022, the knighthood is seen as one of Britain’s most coveted royal orders.
However, some columnists and people on social media have questioned whether Daley should receive the award, suggesting that knighthood should be reserved for people who serve the community rather than athletes.
It remains to be seen whether Daley will accept the honor, as he also has the option to decline.
But why do people turn down awards and who are the most famous people to turn down awards?
Why do people reject it?
When the king unofficially approves a dignitary, the recipient receives an official letter.
This letter will ask them if they want to accept the honor that the king will give them. The recipient then has the right to decide whether he will accept it or not.
While many have decided to step forward and accept the honor, some people over the years have declined. The reasons ranged from political stance to believing that he did not deserve the title.
A list of notable names who declined the honor
Roald Dahl
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The beloved children’s author, known for books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, reportedly turned down a knighthood in 1986.
The information was revealed by a Freedom of Information Act filing by the Telegraph. However, the reason for Dahl’s rejection of the award is not included.
Nigella Lawson
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Famous TV chef Nigella Lawson once revealed that she turned down an OBE from the Queen in 2001.
As for his reasons, he explained: “I don’t save lives and I don’t do anything except what I love.”
Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French
Danny Lawson / PA
The comedy duo, best known for their work on Absolutely Fabulous among many other well-known films and television series, declined the OBE in 2001.
Speaking to Source magazine in 2008, Saunders admitted: “If I felt I deserved a Damehood, I would accept it.
“At that time, we felt well paid to have fun. It didn’t seem right somehow… It felt a bit fake to stand together with those who are dedicated and live for a truly worthy cause,” he added.
David Bowie
Yui Mok / PA
The great player has turned down honors from the Queen twice: once in 2000 when he was offered a CBE and later, in 2003, when he was offered a knighthood.
The musician explained why he made that decision, saying, “I will not accept something like that. I seriously don’t know what it is for. This is not what I want in my life.
Professor Stephen Hawking
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The legendary scientist was offered a knighthood in the 1990s but he decided to turn it down.
The decision was informed by the UK Government’s science funding decisions.
Jon Snow
Jonathan Brady / PA
World-renowned news anchors and journalists with decades-long careers were offered an OBE in the past, but turned it down.
Speaking to the New York Times about this, Snow explained that he believed that journalists should not respect the government and added: “I tried to find out why I was given and I could not get a clear answer or, really. , to find out who applied to me.”
Laurence Stephen Lowry
Frank Martin/BIPs/Getty Images
The renowned painter is believed to hold the record for most rejections, having reportedly turned down five awards, including a knighthood, CBE, and OBE.
A close friend of Harold Riley later said that the artist was a private and guarded person who did not want to change his name, which led to his decision not to accept the award.
A man who has returned his honor
It is not uncommon for people to return to royal honors years after receiving the award.
Again, the reasons why people choose to do so vary.
For example, some have developed a certain opinion about the monarchy that generates such honor. Others may not like it and feel that what they should do is return the award.
Famous people who have produced the award for various reasons include John Lennon, Michael Sheen, Alan Cumming, and Paula Vennells.
