Ah, there’s nothing better than waking up on a lazy Thursday and looking up the Wiki page for Orders of the British Empire. There’s a wonderful rumor this morning… Benedict Cumberbatch might be receiving a CBE, which is Commander of the British Empire. It’s not a knighthood, in case you’re wondering (like I was). IF Bendy gets a CBE, no one will be calling his Sir Bendy or Sir Cumby (and thankfully, no one will be referring to his wife as Lady Sophie). A CBE is one rung lower than a knighthood (KBE) and one rung higher an Officer of the British Empire (OBE). Apparently, some are second-guessing this rumored award because Benedict is much younger (at the age of 38) than most CBE and KBE recipients.

Could Benedict Cumberbatch be among the famous faces on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list? The Sherlock actor is reportedly set to become a Commander of the Order of the British Empire – one rank below a knighthood – when the nominations are announced on June 12th, according to The Sun.

A “source” has commented to the newspaper that Cumberbatch’s CBE – for services to drama – comes surprisingly early in his film career which hit a high note earlier this year when the 38-year-old was nominated for a leading actor Oscar for his portrayal of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.

“Benedict is clearly very talented but a CBE is normally for those coming towards the end of their careers,” commented the source.

Another “insider” added: “It’s not as though he’s a veteran actor such as John Hurt, who didn’t get the CBE until he was 64.”

Cumberbatch – who is expecting his first child with wife Sophie Hunter – won international recognition for his portrayal of the eponymous detective in BBC1?s Sherlock which first aired in 2010. He has gone on to star in a string of high profiles films, including Star Trek Into Darkness, The Fifth Estate, 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County and last year’s Imitation Game, with an upcoming role in Black Mass (opposite Johnny Depp) and a 13-week run playing the lead in Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Barbican later this year.

[From Radio Times]

When Benedict was so extra during the awards season, some theorized that he was not only campaigning for an Oscar, but a knighthood as well. Benedict has always been somewhat cozy with the royal family in some respects. He’s been a long-time ambassador for The Prince’s Trust, which is Prince Charles’ charity/grant scheme for young people needing scholarships and that sort of thing. Benedict has also done a number of royal and royal-adjacent events in the past year in particular, like a fundraiser with Prince William and a party at Buckingham Palace, etc. He probably was campaigning for this. And hey, at least it’s not a knighthood.

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