15 Famous Names Who Turned Down British Honours

In spite of accepting a similar Order of Merit from the French government back in 1999, Bowie seems to have something against the British honours system. In 2000 he declined the honour of a CBE, and then three years later added to that by declining a knighthood too. “I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that,” he said. “I seriously don't know what it's for. It's not what I spent my life working for.”