Philanthropist Sir Hans Rausing made Knight Bachelor by King at Windsor Castle
Sir Hans Rausing, one of England’s leading philanthropists, was appointed a Knight Bachelor at an appointment ceremony hosted by the King at Windsor Castle.
The heir to Tetra Pak, who has donated more than £500 million to at least 2,000 organizations across the UK, was knighted in the King’s birthday honors list in June for his services to the arts.
The Charity Survival Fund, which he founded with his late wife Julia during the pandemic, provided donations to 329 charities.
The Julia Rausing Foundation has donated £150 million to the National Gallery to open a new wing that will include modern art for the first time.
Sir Hans founded the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust with his late wife, Julia Delves Broughton, in 2014.
Sir Hans’ second wife Julia died of cancer in April last year, aged 63, and last year the foundation was renamed the Julia Rausing Foundation in her memory.
The new foundation has doubled its annual giving across the UK to £100 million; this includes a donation of £150,000. IndependentLast year we started the Brick by Brick campaign to build a women’s shelter.
Sir Hans said about this award: “I am very proud to receive this prestigious honour.
“This recognition meant a great deal to my late wife, Julia, whose vision led to the creation of our charitable foundation in 2014.”
Sir Hans’ first wife Eva died in 2012. Friends praised Julia for bringing happiness to Eva after her death and encouraging the extraordinary generosity of her charitable foundation.
His father, Hans Rausing senior, who died in 2019, is credited with turning Tetra Pak into a global business.
Television presenter Claudia Winkleman and her husband at the appointment ceremonies held on Tuesday and Wednesday Definitely Come Dance co-presenter Tess Daly became an MBE and The Who frontman Sir Roger Daltrey received a knighthood.
Sir Roger, 81, who initiated and curated the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Royal Albert Hall concerts from 2000 to 2025, was honored for his services to charity and music.
Others honored at Windsor Castle included former chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt and former House of Commons leader Dame Penny Mordaunt.
