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C.S. Lewis opted out of Queen’s Award

A list was released yesterday that revealed 277 people who rejected honors from the Queen between 1951 and 1999.  The information was protected by the Cabinet Office until a BBC Freedom of Information request and only includes the names of those who have passed away.

What is unclear from the list is the reason why he would have declined the honor.  The Belfast-born Mr. Lewis, known for his great writing achievements, turned down the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1952.  It was just over a decade before his death.  Lewis was also known to be modest about his achievements.  That was the same year in which The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was released.

Among the other prominent figures revealed to have rejected honours was Irish-born officer Roger Casement, who forfeited an award. Sir Alfred Hitchcock rejected an honour in 1962 but later accepted a knighthood.

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