British actor Idris Elba has officially become Sir Idris Elba after receiving a knighthood from King Charles at Windsor Castle.

The 53-year-old actor was honoured during an investiture ceremony on June 2 for his services to young people. King Charles touched a sword to Elba’s shoulders as he knelt before him, making the honour official.

A photograph of the ceremony was shared on the royal family’s official Instagram account. The post congratulated all those who received honours during the event.

Elba later shared the post on his Instagram Stories and wrote, “We are thankful. The work continues.” He also posted a photograph with his wife, Sabrina Elba, showing the couple at Windsor Castle after the ceremony.

The actor received the honour for his work supporting young people through the Elba Hope Foundation, a charity he co-founded with his wife in 2022. The organisation works with local communities to tackle youth unemployment, improve access to education and address food insecurity.

The ceremony marked Elba’s second meeting with King Charles in recent weeks. He recently attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace through his work with The King’s Trust, where he serves as a Goodwill Ambassador.

Elba has often spoken about the support he received from the charity as a teenager. He was awarded a grant from the organisation when he was 18, which helped him begin his career in the arts.

His knighthood was first announced in King Charles’ 2026 New Year Honours List. Speaking earlier this year, Elba described the recognition as a great honour and said he was proud that his work with young people had been acknowledged.

Several other notable figures also received honours during the ceremony. Figure skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean received damehood and knighthood honours respectively, while actor and author Meera Syal was made a Dame. Entertainer Paul Elliot received an MBE, and Betty Brown was awarded an OBE for her services to justice.