Figure skating icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean are poised to receive the highest honours from the Crown, with Damehood and Knighthood expected in King Charles III's New Year Honours list. The recognition comes more than four decades after their legendary gold medal win at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
A Lifetime of Achievement on Ice
The Nottinghamshire-born duo, now 68 and 67 respectively, have been national treasures since their historic perfect-score Olympic performance to Ravel's Boléro. They later secured a bronze medal at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer. Their anticipated new titles follow previous honours from the late Queen Elizabeth II, who awarded them MBEs in 1981 and OBEs in 2000.
Reports suggest the honours are a fitting tribute to five decades of dedication to their sport, which has captivated millions of fans worldwide, including royalty. The late Queen was a noted admirer, sending a personal telegram after their 1984 victory, stating she watched their "superb performance" with "great pleasure."
A Year of Final Curtains and New Beginnings
The news caps a significant year for the pair, which saw the conclusion of their long-running ITV show, Dancing On Ice, after its 2025 cancellation. The celebrity skating competition, which launched in 2006 and featured the Olympians as judges, saw viewership decline from its peak of over 10 million to around three million in its final series.
Earlier in 2025, Torvill and Dean embarked on their emotional farewell tour, Torvill and Dean: Our Last Dance, which ran from April until summer. The tour was not without incident, as Jayne suffered a noticeable fall during one performance, though she quickly recovered to continue the show. Following their final performance in July, the pair posted an emotional farewell video on Instagram, captioning it: "Farewell to the ice. Thank you for all the wonderful memories."
A Royal Connection and Lasting Legacy
Christopher Dean has spoken warmly of his encounters with the monarchy. He recalled being "awestruck" when meeting the late Queen and was deeply touched to receive a reply after writing to her shortly before her passing in 2022. "I was so touched. I didn't even expect to get a reply," he said, adding that the monarch's global stature made Britons "hold our heads higher when we are abroad."
This latest royal accolade solidifies their status as two of Britain's most beloved sporting figures. Their journey from Nottingham ice rink to Olympic glory and national television has been a constant in British cultural life for half a century. The expected honours from King Charles III serve as a majestic finale to their unparalleled career on ice, celebrating a partnership that has delivered some of the most memorable moments in British sporting history.
