Key points
- The main ceremony was held at Buckingham Palace
- Sadiq Khan was re-elected for a third term in May 2024
- Sadiq Khan was conferred Sitara-e-Pakistan for his services to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been knighted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace.
According to the BBC, the formal ceremony saw the mayor go down on one knee and be dubbed with a sword by the King, the traditional process for conferring a knighthood.
Sadiq Khan, who was re-elected for a third term in May 2024, is the first mayor of London to receive the honour.
Sadiq Khan was recognised in the New Year Honours for his political and public service.
However, the Conservatives have criticised his knighthood, with Shadow Home Secretary and Croydon South MP Chris Philp claiming Londoners “will rightly be furious his track record of failure is being rewarded”.
Sadiq Khan said Tuesday’s ceremony at Buckingham Palace was “a great day for the family”.
“It’s a big deal for us”
He added: “My mum’s here, and she’s been emotional since it was announced.
“Obviously, from my background, being the son of immigrants, my parents coming here from Pakistan, it’s a big deal for us.”
The London promise: if you work hard, and get a helping hand, you can achieve anything.
Immensely proud to receive a knighthood from His Majesty The King. Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never imagined I’d one day receive this great honour while serving as Mayor. pic.twitter.com/B41zCs6cF9
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) June 10, 2025
Son of Pakistani immigrants
Sadiq Khan, the son of Pakistani immigrants, grew up in a working-class family in south London, facing numerous challenges before becoming one of the city’s most prominent political figures.
His father worked as a bus driver, values of hard work and social mobility deeply influencing Sadiq Khan’s life. Sadiq Khan, a trained lawyer, entered politics with the Labour Party, eventually becoming Mayor of London in 2016.
In 2018, he was also conferred Sitara-e-Pakistan for his services to Pakistan by then President Mamnoon Hussain.
