Idris Elba still isn’t James Bond, but he’s now a knight

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Idris Elba might not be the new James Bond, but he is now one of the U.K.’s newest knights.

He was one of several stars who were honoured at Windsor Castle, tapped on the shoulder with a shiny sword and officially knighted by King Charles on Tuesday.

“We are thankful, the work continues,” Elba wrote in an Instagram story alongside a photo of himself sporting his fresh gold medal, hand in hand with his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba.

Known for his roles in TV series such as The Wire and Luther, he was knighted for his services to young people.

In 2022, he and his wife founded the Elba Hope Foundation, which aims to promote sustainable development in the U.K., U.S. and Africa, and expand opportunity and access for young people and offer support for community empowerment and education.

an instagram story with a photo of a Idris Elba and his wife holding hands and smiling, with the text "we are thankful, the work continues — ‘We are thankful, the work continues,’ Elba wrote in an Instagram story alongside a photo of himself sporting his new medal his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba. (Instagram/@IdrisElba)

He’s also a goodwill ambassador for The King’s Trust, a charity founded by King Charles (formerly The Prince’s Trust) to support vulnerable young people.

The actor, musician and activist, a lifelong fan of the Arsenal soccer club, also posted a video to his socials of him jumping up and down, holding a brand new Arsenal jersey with “SIR ELBA” written on it.

Elba and Charles are also teaming up for a Netflix documentary to mark 50 years of the charity, which launched in 1976. That’s scheduled to be released in the fall.

And his start in the arts is intertwined with the palace. When he was 18, he received a grant from The Prince’s Trust and used it to attend the National Youth Music Theatre, where he studied acting.

Other knighthood and damehood recipients on Tuesday included Olympic ice dancing champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, recognized for their services to ice skating and voluntary work.

Comedian Meera Syal was also honoured for her services to literature, drama and charity. And comedian Paul Elliott, known as one of the Chuckle Brothers, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his charitable service.