Queen Elizabeth Turned Down the Nobel Peace Prize: "Thank You, But No Thank You"

A true humble Queen.

Queen Elizabeth wearing a white dress, red sash, diamond and ruby jewelry and a diamond tiara in front of a red staircase
(Image credit: Getty Images)

During her remarkable 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life to public service, and that included strengthening the Commonwealth of Nations. While many have wondered why the late monarch never won a Nobel Peace Prize, it turns out there's a very good reason.

The Daily Mail reported that "a senior courtier" told the outlet that Queen Elizabeth "didn't want the honor."

"While candidates don’t have to be consulted, Buckingham Palace was approached on more than one occasion by Commonwealth leaders 'for guidance' on nominating Her Majesty," columnist Ephraim Hardcastle wrote, adding, "They were politely told, ‘Thank you, but no thank you.'"

So why did the Queen, who dedicated her life to diplomacy and global unity, decline the prestigious honor?

A black and white photo of Queen Elizabeth wearing a gown, sash and tiara looking to the right

Queen Elizabeth dedicated her life to service.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As a 21-year-old Elizabeth said in a famous speech before she became Queen, "I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service." Perhaps the idea of being recognized for simply doing her job was something Queen Elizabeth felt uncomfortable with, especially if it came to taking away the honor from someone else.

Throughout her reign, her focus was always on the collective good—on building bridges and fostering cooperation, not on accumulating titles or accolades for herself.

However, that didn't mean that the public—and government officials—didn't launch a campaign to try and snag Queen Elizabeth a nomination.

Per People, there was such a strong sentiment for Queen Elizabeth to win a Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 that the Telegraph reported that the matter would likely be discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which was held shortly after the article was published.

Queen Elizabeth smiling, wearing a pink tweed coat and pink hat with white feathers and pearl earrings

The Queen, seen here in a 2017 photo, passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A source told the publication that Queen Elizabeth's potential nomination was "being discussed by different high commissioners,” adding, "They want to nominate her for what she has done for the Commonwealth.”

Another source told the Telegraph, "If someone nominates her and she is successful, I think the whole country would be thrilled to bits and consider her fully deserving."

As for Queen Elizabeth's thoughts on the matter, perhaps she wrote about it in her diary. Her final journal entry was recently revealed in Robert Hardman's book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, and it was written just two days before she died in September 2022.

While her five-word entry wasn't about the Nobel Peace Prize, it did refer to her final public duty, appointing Liz Truss as prime minister. At the end of the day, she carried out her work until the very end, and this was The Queen's true legacy—not a prize.

Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

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