Celebs who rejected British royal honors

John Cleese - Comedic actor and writer John Cleese, who was one of the genius minds behind the legendary 'Monty Python's Flying Circus,' rejected a number of honors, including a CBE.

John Cleese - He said no to the CBE in 1996, and when offered a peerage in 1999 he said that he "did not wish to spend winters in England" and that being a peer would be "ridiculous."

Peter Capaldi - Scottish actor Peter Capaldi, whom most people know as the 12th Doctor in 'Doctor Who,' is reported to have declined the offer of an OBE during the noughties.

Peter Capaldi - Although he appears coy when the subject is broached, he did say in an interview: "I think it's lovely that people get them but it's not really my thing."

Roald Dahl - Late children's author Roald Dahl, the man behind such iconic stories as 'Matilda' and 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' turned down an OBE in 1986.

Roald Dahl - The writer did not take issue with the idea of receiving an honor. However, he was simply holding out to receive the higher honor of a knighthood.

Danny Boyle - Film director Danny Boyle has actually accepted a number of honors over the course of his career, but he turned down the knighthood offered to him following the 2012 Olympics.

Danny Boyle - Boyle was offered the knighthood for his work creating the opening ceremony, but he was adamant he didn't want it. He even described it as "wrong."

Albert Finney - Late actor Albert Finney, who had an impressive career across film, television, and theater, declined a CBE in 1980 and then a knighthood in 2000.

Albert Finney - Finney was defiant in his rejection of the offers; when it came to rejecting the knighthood, he described the honors system as a "way of perpetuating snobbery."

George Bernard Shaw - Famous playwright George Bernard Shaw turned down both a knighthood and an Order of Merit (an award that recognizes distinguished services in the armed forces).

George Bernard Shaw - Interestingly, he also initially refused the Noble Prize for Literature in 1925. Clearly it was always in his nature to be suspicious of public honors.

Rudyard Kipling - Author Rudyard Kipling, the mind behind such great and lasting works as 'The Jungle Book,' declined knighthood twice, once in 1899 and again in 1903.

Rudyard Kipling - His wife is reported to have said that he felt he "could do his work better without it." Kipling also refused the Order of Merit in both 1921 and 1924.