Many inspirational Yorkshire names have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list, including Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield.
He has been knighted in recognition of his glittering rugby league career and subsequent mammoth fundraising efforts to aid research and support for families affected by Motor Neurone Disease.
The 45-year-old, who has raised more than £11 million since being inspired by his friend and teammate Rob Burrow’s battle against the disease in 2020, tops the list of sports stars recognised for their contributions to their sports and charities.
'My playing career was everything I could ever have dreamed of as a young man but the last seven years have given me so much inspiration,' says Sir Kevin.
'The MND community are the very best of us, and it has been my privilege to support them and put their battle on the stage it needs.'
Sir Kevin's amazing fundraising efforts played a major role in making the dream of The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, located at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, a reality.
It opened its doors last year and is dedicated entirely to MND care, research, education and holistic support, and will be a trailblazer for other centres around the country.
'Everyone should have a friend like Kevin'
Rob's wife Lindsey Burrow has welcomed Sinfield’s latest honour.
'On behalf of the whole Burrow family, I would like to congratulate Kevin on his knighthood, we are all delighted for him and I can not think of a more deserving recipient.
'Kevin did so much for Rob but also the whole MND community with raising awareness and funds to support families and aid research. I know he has said he is dedicated to supporting the MND community for however long it takes to find a cure and that means so much to so many people to have a champion like Kevin in their corner.
'As Rob used to say, everyone should have a friend like Kevin and so many people will be pleased to see him get this recognition.'
Rugby league great Neil Fox made a CBE
There is another honour for rugby league, with 87-year-old former Wakefield great Neil Fox made a CBE for services to his sport and the community in West Yorkshire.
Nigel Wood, chairman of the Rugby Football League and RL Commercial, says: 'Neil’s astonishing feats, largely with the glorious Wakefield Trinity side of the 1960s, have stood the test of time in Rugby League. It is almost unimaginable today to think that Neil played more than 800 professional games.
'Nearly half a century after his glorious career drew to a close, still no one has yet got close to his all-time scoring record of 6,220 points.'
'To say I'm humbled is an understatement'
Soap star Lisa Riley has said being recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours is the 'best 50th birthday present'.
The Emmerdale actress, who celebrates her 50th birthday on July 13, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to drama and to charity.
She is best known for playing Mandy Dingle in the long-running ITV soap between 1995 and 2001, and from 2019 onwards.
She says: 'Wow if this is not my best 50th birthday present being awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list, I don’t know what is.
'I am being awarded an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, for my services to drama and to charity. To say I am humbled is an absolute understatement.
'To have been able to do my job as an actor for 36 years now, never having a day out of work in our industry, is an honour in itself.'
Riley, whose mother Cath died in her arms from pancreatic cancer, said she felt strongly about using her public profile to advocate for charities.
She says: 'My platform has enabled me to be an ambassador for my chosen charities: Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s Yorkshire, Sane and Sue Ryder.
'These charities, since losing my beloved mum Cath to cancer, have helped me at times of grief, when I personally needed them the most.
'So, giving back was the least I could do. I made that promise to my mum before she died: I told her I would help as many families as possible, as we are all in this together, and we understand.'
Riley said she wanted to thank her bosses at ITV for their 'love and loyalty' over the years, adding: 'I receive this today as the first ever cast member of Emmerdale to have been awarded an MBE.
'For me, playing the role of Mandy Dingle is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only that, being a woman in our industry, sisterhood means everything to me.
'The finest feeling today is that I can truly feel my mum’s smile and her electric energy on my shoulders, the pride that her little girl ‘DID IT’!'
She adds: 'Thank you so much, my heart is the warmest it could ever be. Finally to my partner Al and my gorgeous family, I love you.'
Yorkshire people named in the Birthday Honours list 2026
Companions of the order of the Bath (CB)
Angela MacDonald CBE. Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Second Permanent Secretary, HM Revenue and Customs. For Public Service. (York, North Yorkshire)
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Neil Fox MBE. For services to Rugby League and to the community in West Yorkshire. (Wakefield, West Yorkshire)
Yasmin Akhtar Khan. Chief Executive Officer, Halo Project. For services to Ending Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women. (Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire)
Ashley John Machin. Lately Lead Non-Executive Director, Department for Work and Pensions. For Public Service. (Ripon, North Yorkshire)
Dr Richard Mark Vautrey. Lately President, Royal College of General Practitioners and GP Partner, Meanwood Group Practice. For services to General Practice. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Thomas William Banham. Chief Executive, Hoyland Common Academy Trust, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. For services to Education. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Kristian Barnfield-Guest. Deputy Director, Business Effectiveness, Ministry of Justice. For services to Diversity and Inclusion. (York, North Yorkshire)
Dr Sharon Curtis. Chief Executive Officer, Emosi, Burngreave, Sheffield. For services to Early Years Education and Children’s Mental Health. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Catherine Handcock. Founder, Creative HEAD. For services to the Hairdressing Industry and to Entrepreneurship. (York, North Yorkshire)
Linda Margaret Harrison-Simcock. Foster Carer, Children’s Services, Leeds City Council. For services to Foster Care and to Vulnerable Children. (Keighley)
Diane Margaret Heritage. Chair of Trustees, New Collaborative Learning Trust. For services to Education. (Selby, North Yorkshire)
Rachel Anne Hollis. Lately Chair, Professional Nursing Committee, Royal College of Nursing and Honorary Nurse Advisor for Children’s Cancer Care, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. For services to Nursing. (Ripon, North Yorkshire)
Janet Caenwyn Lumb. Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Timeout Children’s Homes, West Yorkshire. For services to Vulnerable Children in the Care Sector. (Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire)
Bernard John Ord. For services to Industry, to Charitable Causes and to the community in Teeside. (Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire)
Simon Charles Perryman. Lately Chair of Governors, Barnsley College, South Yorkshire. For services to Further Education. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Dr Martin Raby. Principal and Chief Executive, The Northern School of Art, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, North Yorkshire and County Durham. For services to Higher Education. (Cleveland, County Durham)
Dr Emma Victoria Rawson. Director of Public Policy, Association of Taxation Technicians. For Public Service. (Halifax, West Yorkshire)
His Honour Judge Jonathan Lee Rose. Resident Judge, Crown Court at Bradford and Honorary Recorder of Bradford. For services to the Administration of Justice and to the Young People of Bradford. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Gary Stott. Executive Chair, Community Shop. For services to the Circular Economy and to Building Communities. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Jonathan Henry Thornton. Chair, University Council, University of Huddersfield. For services to Higher Education. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Diane Benstead. Foster Carer, East Riding Fostering Service, East Riding of Yorkshire. For services to Foster Care. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Cyril Alexander Butler. Volunteer, Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association. For services to the Merchant Navy in Hull. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Krysten Michael Francis Coombs. Athlete and Trustee, Dwarf Sports Association UK. For services to Badminton and to the Dwarf Sports Association. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
David Alan Dalton. Chief Executive Officer, British Glass. For services to the Glass Industry. (Swinton, South Yorkshire)
Alan Dootson. Development Manager, Sheffield Co-Operative Development Group. For services to Co-Operatives in the City of Sheffield. (Doncaster, South Yorkshire)
Louise Joanne Ellis-Frankland. Chief Executive Officer, Mansfield Pollard & Co Ltd. For services to the Manufacturing Sector and to Employee Well-Being. (Skipton, North Yorkshire)
Imran Hafeez. Head, National Literacy Trust Bradford Hub. For services to Literacy Development and Social Inclusion in Bradford, West Yorkshire. (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Polly Harrow. Assistant Principal, Kirklees College, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. For services to Further Education. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Susan Elizabeth Hunter. For services to the community in York. (York, North Yorkshire)
Adrian Phillip Kneeshaw. Chief Executive Officer, Carlton Academy Trust, Bradford, West Yorkshire. For services to Education. (Wakefield, West Yorkshire)
Professor Stephen Howard Leveson. Founder and Trustee, York Against Cancer. For services to Cancer Patients in North Yorkshire. (York, North Yorkshire)
Jamie Lewis. Chief Executive Officer, HEY Smile Foundation. For voluntary services to the community in Yorkshire. (Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Russell John Manning. Lately Chair, Leeds Jewish Welfare Board. For services to the Jewish Community and to Charity. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Valerie Ann Mills. Chair, Barnsley Premier Leisure. For services to the community in Barnsley. (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)
Richard Mark Morris. Head of GB Para Badminton. For services to Sport and Disabled People. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Jayne Nendick. For services to the community in Withernsea and South East Holderness, East Yorkshire. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Leonard Donald Pattinson. Lately Foster Carer, Kirklees Council. For services to Foster Care. (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Pamela Mary Pattinson. Lately Foster Carer, Kirklees Council. For services to Foster Care. (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Edwin Piercy. Volunteer, Hull Independent Merchant Navy Association. For services to the Merchant Navy in Hull. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Allison Kathryn Louise Potter. Manager, National Literacy Trust Middlesbrough Hub. For services to the community in Middlesbrough. (Guisborough, North Yorkshire)
Lisa Jane Riley. Actor. For services to Drama and to Charity. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Professor Richard John Scaife. Regional Development Director, The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. For services to Manufacturing. (Dronfield, South Yorkshire)
Kamal Jit Sharma. Managing Director, Hindu Cultural Society of Bradford. For services to the community in Bradford, West Yorkshire. (Pudsey, West Yorkshire)
Barrie John Stephenson. Trustee, Restore. For services to People Experiencing Homelessness in York. (York, North Yorkshire)
Catherine Elizabeth Sykes. Vice-Principal Governance and Compliance, Hull College, East Riding of Yorkshire. For services to Further Education. (Brough, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Angela Tattersall. County President, North Yorkshire and Teesside, St John Ambulance. For voluntary services to St John Ambulance. (York, North Yorkshire)
Jill Margaret Webb. Trainer, Girlguiding North East England. For services to Girlguiding. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
Lucille Elizabeth Windle. Executive Headteacher, Abbey School, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, For services to Education. (Dronfield, Derbyshire)
Professor Simeon John Yates. Professor of Digital Culture, University of Liverpool. For services to Digital Inclusion. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
Sharon Jane Brown. Chief Executive, DIAL Barnsley. For services to Disabled People. (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)
Stephen Bunn. For services to Stroke Victims and to the community in Cleveland, North Yorkshire. (Redcar, North Yorkshire)
Amanda Frances Louise Caldwell. Chair, Rastrick Big Local. For services to the community in Rastrick. (Brighouse, West Yorkshire)
Lynsey Corbiere. Customer Service Officer, East Midlands Railway. For services to Rail Passengers in Sheffield. (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)
Elizabeth Culshaw. For services to the community in Ingleton, North Yorkshire. (North Yorkshire)
John Clint Day. Lately Police Constable, Humberside Police. For services to the community in the East Riding of Yorkshire. (Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Christopher John Groombridge. Chair, Teeth Team. For services to Child Dental Health Improvement. (Market Weighton, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Christopher Hailey-Norris. Chief Executive Officer, Up For Yorkshire. For services to Charity and to the community in Yorkshire. (York, North Yorkshire)
Judith Mary Holling. For services to the community in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. (Barnsley, South Yorkshire)
Esther Louise Lagden. Programme Manager, Network Rail. For services to Rail Safety. (York, North Yorkshire)
Margaret Lawson. Community Safety Manager, South Yorkshire Police. For services to Young People in South Yorkshire. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Frederick George Lewis. Volunteer Appropriate Adult, South Yorkshire Police. For services to Vulnerable People in Custody. (Rotherham, South Yorkshire)
Helen Mary Mack DL. Lately Director of Income Generation, Wakefield Hospice. For services to Hospice Care. (Wakefield, West Yorkshire)
Dharmesh Mistry. Police Constable, West Yorkshire Police. For services to Policing and to the community in Bradford and Leeds. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Mary Mitchell. National Returns Progression Officer, Home Office. For services to Diversity and Inclusion. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
Stephen James O’Callaghan. Safeguarding and Crime Prevention Lead, TransPennine Express. For services to Rail Safety. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
Alan Thomas Parker. For voluntary services to Rugby League Football and to the community in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Brian Robertson. Town Clerk, Goole Town Council. For services to Local Government. (Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire)
Graeme Robertson. For services to the community in York. (York, North Yorkshire)
Lisette Van Riel. Co-Founder and Director, DoggyLottery and DoggyWarriors. For services to Animal Welfare Charities. (Pontefract, West Yorkshire)
King's Police Medal (KPM)
Richard Jon Padwell. Chief Superintendent, West Yorkshire Police. (West Yorkshire)
