Post Office campaigner becomes Sir Alan Bates at first autumn investiture

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The Princess Royal has hosted the first autumn Investiture at Windsor Castle and the Post Office campaigner Alan Bates received a knighthood. 

Sir Alan is best known for his hard-fought campaign for post office staff who were wrongly convicted of fraud, a decades-long battle to have injustices righted. 

The 70 year old from Wales was listed in The King's Birthday Honours list that was released in June and was officially presented with his knighthood on Wednesday at Windsor. 

Sir Alan, who was accompanied by his wife, Lady Bates, was originally offered an OBE for his commitment to justice but declined the offer. He refused to accept an honour while the former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells kept her CBE award as he felt it was inappropriate. Vennells returned her CBE earlier this year at the government's request. 

Sir Alan was portrayed by Toby Jones in Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, a 2024 ITV drama that covered the Post Office scandal. 

Anita Neil, the first British black female Olympian, received a CBE on Wednesday for services to athletics. Monica Ali, author of Brick Lane, was awarded a CBE for services to literature while Lounica "Nica" Burns, theatre producer and owner, was awarded a CBE for services to theatre. 

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