Rise, Sir Idris Elba! See the Moment King Charles Knighted the Actor at Windsor Castle

Janine HenniTue, June 2, 2026 at 3:35 PM UTC

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King Charles knights Sir Idris Elba at Windsor Castle on June 2, 2026
Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo -

Idris Elba received his knighthood for services to young people from King Charles at Windsor Castle

"We are thankful. The work continues," the King's Trust ambassador and Elba Hope Foundation co-founder said

The actor, activist and musician has credited a grant he received from The King's Trust as a teen for helping launch his career in the arts

Introducing Sir Idris Elba!

On June 2, King Charles knighted the actor, activist and musician in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Elba, 53, received the honor of knighthood for services to young people.

The monarch, 77, did the honors, tapping a sword on the Hijack star's shoulders as he knelt, with a photo of the moment making the royal family's official Instagram grid.

"Congratulations to everyone who received honours at today’s Investiture ceremonies, hosted by The King at Windsor Castle. 🎖️👏," courtiers captioned the carousel, which Elba reposted on his own Instagram Stories.

"We are thankful. The work continues," The Wire alum wrote over another photo that showed him sporting his medal and holding hands with his wife, Sabrina Elba, at the castle grounds.

The star tagged the handles for Sabrina's Instagram and the Elba Hope Foundation, the charity the couple co-founded in 2022 to support diaspora communities and create greater opportunities.

Idris Elba's Instagram Stories on June 2, 2026.
Credit: Idris Elba/Instagram

Elba's knighthood was announced in King Charles' 2026 New Year's Honours list, and the moment was made official at the investiture ceremony. King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince William exclusively helm the ceremonies, handing out knighthoods, damehoods and other recognitions after lists of honorees are announced twice a year.

Multi-hyphenate entertainer Elba is also a Goodwill Ambassador for The King's Trust and has credited his start in the arts to a grant he received from the royal charity when he was 18.

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Exclusively speaking to PEOPLE at the Hijack season 2 screening in January, Elba said the recognition was still sinking in.

"I haven't really spoken about it, but I will say that it's a real honor to be recognized for the work," he said then. "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 honor. My family is honored by it. I don't even know how to talk about it."

King Charles and Sir Idris Elba at Windsor Castle on June 2, 2026.
Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

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Elba and the King recently teamed up in a surprising way and hopped behind the DJ booth at a Buckingham Palace garden party in London on May 14. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the King's Trust, and the actor later opened up to PEOPLE about the fun.

"It was the 50th year of The King's Trust, who I work with sometimes. One of our programs, Elba Hope and The King's Trust, we had this DJ that I trained. He'd done one of my courses, and he was DJing. King Charles came over, and he wanted to do a back-to-back, so he got on," the star said earlier this month at the Los Angeles premiere of his upcoming film, Masters of the Universe.

King Charles with Christian St Louis and Idris Elba during a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 14, 2026 in London.
Credit: Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

After joking that his brush with royalty was “alright,” Elba then corrected himself and said it was “amazing” to DJ alongside the King.

The King's Trust works to empower vulnerable young people with skills to prosper and has helped over one million young people since the future King Charles established it in 1976 as The Prince's Trust.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”