UK
History was made at Buckingham Palace this week as Sadiq Khan, the three-term Mayor of London, was officially knighted by King Charles III, recognising his enduring contributions to political and public life. The ceremony marks a significant moment, not just for the capital, but for the global South Asian and Muslim communities.
Now formally titled Sir Sadiq Khan, the 54-year-old Labour politician becomes the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of a major Western city to be knighted, a symbolic milestone in British political history.
Sir Sadiq was among a distinguished group honoured during the investiture, including rugby legend Sir Billy Boston, renowned author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, and businessman Sir Loyd Grossman.
The mayor received the honour in recognition of his political career, which began when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Tooting in 2005. Born and raised on a council estate in south London, the son of a Pakistani bus driver, Sir Sadiq went on to become a human rights lawyer before entering the House of Commons. He served as a junior minister under Gordon Brown and later as Shadow Justice Secretary under Ed Miliband.
In 2016, he made history by defeating Conservative Zac Goldsmith to become the first Muslim mayor of London, succeeding Boris Johnson. He was re-elected in 2021 and again in 2024, making him the only London mayor to win three consecutive terms.
Speaking after the ceremony, Sir Sadiq said:
“I am truly humbled to have received a knighthood in the King’s New Year Honours. I couldn’t have dreamed when growing up on a council estate in south London that I would one day be Mayor of London — let alone be knighted by the King.”
The honour is widely seen as a tribute to his leadership through a turbulent decade that included Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing challenges around housing, transport, and climate action in the capital.
With this knighthood, Sir Sadiq Khan’s journey from council estate to City Hall to Buckingham Palace stands as an inspiring testament to diversity, resilience, and public service in modern Britain.
