Idris Elba has been officially knighted by King Charles. The 53-year-old star was honoured during an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle on June 2, where he received the prestigious title for his services to young people.
King Charles performed the ceremony by tapping a sword on Idris’ shoulders as he knelt, a moment that was later shared on the royal family’s official Instagram grid. The post featured the caption, “Congratulations to everyone who received honours at today’s Investiture ceremonies, hosted by The King at Windsor Castle.”
Idris, who is also an activist and musician, shared his own reflection on the day via his Instagram Stories. Posting a photo of himself wearing his medal and holding hands with his wife, Sabrina Elba, he wrote, “We are thankful. The work continues.” He also tagged the Elba Hope Foundation, a charity the couple co-founded in 2022 to address issues such as youth unemployment, education gaps, and food insecurity by partnering with local leaders and institutions.
The knighthood, which was first announced in King Charles’ 2026 New Year’s Honours list, marks a special milestone for the Idris. Talking about the recognition earlier this year at the Hijack Season 2 premiere, he told People, “I haven’t really spoken about it, but I will say that it’s a real honour to be recognised for the work. Especially trying to make as much noise for young people and the things that some of them are going through. So it feels like an honour. My family is honoured by it. I don’t even know how to talk about it.”
This ceremony was Idris’ second recent meeting with the King, after a recent garden party at Buckingham Palace related to his work with The King’s Trust. Idris, who is a Goodwill Ambassador for the charity, has previously credited a grant he received from the organisation at age 18 for his start in the arts. Apart from the royal ceremony, Idris celebrated for another reason, posting a video on social media of himself jumping while holding an Arsenal soccer club jersey customized with “SIR ELBA” on the back.
Also Read: Jackie Chan Says THIS About His Father Charles Chan’s Life
By
