Colin Firth's ex-wife hands back MBE in rage over Donald Trump

Colin Firth's ex-wife Livia Firth has dramatically torn up her royal honour and returned it to the Palace in fury at what she branded Britain's "appeasement" of Donald Trump. The 56-year-old fashion activist, who was married to the Oscar-winning actor for 22 years until their split in 2019, shared an explosive Instagram video on Wednesday showing herself ripping up her MBE certificate. She said she was sending the medal back to St James's Palace after seeing the US president "appeased and honoured" during his visit to the UK last week.

In a letter accompanying the move, Livia raged: "Because I can't reconcile those two positions, I have shredded my honour and I am returning it to sender." She also posted pictures of her MBE medal in its box and her handwritten note, mistakenly dated October 24, 2025, rather than September 24. She accused ministers of legitimising Trump with a "frightening and cowardly display of appeasement".

Livia continued: "As I write this, we see that horrible excuse of a human (called Trump) in full flow at the UN General Assembly, his poisonous rhetoric amplified and legitimised. Last week's display showed me nothing of those values I thought King Charles upheld - or its spirit.

"Rather, a frightening and cowardly display of appeasing someone who stands for the obliteration of the natural world and the most vulnerable people on earth."

The Italian-born campaigner was recognised with the honour in 2019 for services to the fashion industry, after co-founding sustainability consultancy Eco-Age and pioneering the "Green Carpet Challenge".

Her work put ethically made couture centre stage at awards season, dressing stars including Meryl Streep and Emma Watson.

Livia said she accepted the award "on behalf of the many garment worker activists who had educated and supported me," despite her long-standing opposition to the British Empire.

In her latest letter, she added: "Although I stand against the British Empire and remnants of that toxic system, I accepted the honour on behalf of the many garment worker activists who had educated and supported me."

She also paid tribute to King Charles, praising his "decades battling on behalf of social and environmental justice", but said she could no longer reconcile her respect for him with his government's treatment of Trump.

She signed off the letter as "Livia Giuggioli (Firth)".

Born in Rome, Livia studied film before meeting Colin on the set of the BBC drama Nostromo in 1996, where she worked as a production assistant. The pair married a year later and had two sons, Luca and Matteo.

The marriage collapsed in 2019 after Livia admitted to an affair with Italian journalist Marco Brancaccia during a brief separation in 2015-16.

The scandal, including her original claim that Marco had stalked her, ultimately led to the couple's final breakup.