Overview
- A notice in The London Gazette on July 23 records that the King directed the cancellation and annulment of the knighthood Donaldson received in 2016 and his name was removed from the Privy Council.
- Donaldson was convicted in June at Newry Crown Court of 18 historic sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, relating to two women abused when they were children.
- He is being held on remand at Maghaberry Prison awaiting sentencing and his solicitor, John McBurney, has lodged papers for an appeal.
- Donaldson had asked for his knighthood to be forfeited and resigned from the Privy Council before the formal notice; his wife lost the courtesy title and faced a trial of the facts after being found unfit for a conventional trial.
- The Gazette entry brings the number of revocations recorded in 2026 to ten and follows established procedure in which the Forfeiture Committee and the Central Chancery recommend cancellations to ministers and the Sovereign.