Prince William bestows honour on Luke Littler as a host of stars receive recognition at Windsor Castle Blog By Patrickads On May 19, 2026 Share - Advertisement - - Advertisement - Share FacebookTwitterGoogle+ReddItWhatsAppPinterestEmail
Prince William hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle today, with 66 individuals receiving honours for outstanding contributions across sport, entertainment and the arts.
Among the headline recipients were teenage darts star Luke Littler and acclaimed actress Cynthia Erivo, who were both awarded MBEs.
The ceremony also saw comedian Matt Lucas collect an OBE, while England footballer Ella Toone and rugby union player Sadia Kabeya were each presented with MBEs.
The honours celebrated achievements across a wide range of fields, recognising several figures who have risen to prominence through remarkable success on the global stage.
Luke Littler famously made history by winning the World Darts Championship aged just 17 years and 347 days, becoming the youngest champion the sport has ever seen.
Now 19 and sitting at the top of the world rankings, Littler has been credited alongside fellow darts star Luke Humphries with helping bring darts to a new generation of fans.
His MBE, awarded in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to darts, sparked an emotional reaction when it was announced last June.
“This is an amazing and unexpected honour but one which I am very grateful for,” Littler said at the time. “To receive a recognition like this is something I had never thought would be possible and it is a proud moment.”
Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo received her MBE for services to music and drama after being named in the New Year Honours list.
The 39-year-old performer from Stockwell, south London, has already built an extraordinary career, winning a Grammy, Daytime Emmy and Tony Award, in addition to earning an Oscar nomination.
A graduate of Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she completed her acting degree in 2010, Erivo gained worldwide recognition for portraying Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande in the film adaptation of Wicked.
“To be given this recognition to celebrate the work that I love to do within the arts, specifically music and drama, is an honour I could never have thought would happen,” Erivo said after the announcement in December.
Elsewhere, Matt Lucas received an OBE for services to drama. The London-born comedian is best known for creating hit sketch shows Little Britain and Come Fly With Me alongside David Walliams.
Lucas also enjoyed a successful stint as co-host of The Great British Bake Off between 2020 and 2023.
In sport, Ella Toone was recognised for services to football after helping England achieve major international success, while Sadia Kabeya earned her MBE following England’s triumph at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.