Sadiq Khan has officially been knighted by King Charles – and while the Mayor of London called it a “humbling moment”, not everyone online is clapping.
The honour was awarded at Buckingham Palace, where Khan joked with the monarch about being a pair of workaholics. But as ever, his knighthood has stirred up the internet.
👑 From Tooting council estate to Buckingham Palace
Posting after the ceremony, Sir Sadiq shared an emotional message reflecting on his journey:
“Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never could have imagined that I’d one day receive this great honour while serving as the Mayor of London.”
He added that he hoped the moment would “inspire others to believe in the incredible opportunities that our great capital offers”.
Khan first became mayor in 2016, replacing Boris Johnson, and has since won two further terms. His time in office has been marked by big battles over policing, housing, pollution, and transport – and has made him one of the most recognisable political figures in the UK.
🤝 A royal moment (and a joke or two)
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Khan said he and King Charles shared a laugh about who works harder.
“He was very chuffed that he managed to personally give me this honour and he actually apologised for it taking so long.”
Apparently, they’ve worked closely together on projects in London – and the monarch was pleased to be the one to present the knighthood in person.
😤 Cue the backlash…
But not everyone was thrilled. As with much of Khan’s career, the reaction online was deeply divided. Supporters celebrated the recognition of Britain’s first Muslim mayor and a symbol of social mobility. Critics, however, accused the honour system of being too political.
Still, love him or loathe him, Sir Sadiq Khan now joins the club of officially knighted public figures – and he’s vowed to keep pushing for a “fairer, safer, greener and more prosperous London for everyone”.
Praise
There was a lot of praise…
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Fury
Some people can’t handle it, at all…
Shadow Home Secretary and Croydon South MP Chris Philp claiming Londoners “will rightly be furious his track record of failure is being rewarded”.
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