Ariana Grande apparently turned down a Damehood for this touching reason

Every year, as part of the New Year Honours list, the Queen rewards special achievements with titles such as Knighthoods and Damehoods.

And while actors, artists and authors like Twiggy and The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood were happy to accept the titles, one celebrity reportedly respectfully turned it down.

Singer Ariana Grande was offered a Damehood for her bravery following the Manchester attack, and organising a concert to support the victims' families.

However, she is said to have turned it down as she felt it was too soon after the incident in May 2017, when a bomb went off at her concert, claiming the lives of 22 victims, including many youngsters.

Just a few weeks after the attack, Ariana hosted the One Love Manchester benefit concert, where the likes of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus performed, which resulted in more than £10m in donations to the British Red Cross. Fans then started a petition for the Thank U, Next performer to receive a Damehood.

A source told The Sun, 'Ariana was flattered but said it was too soon. She explained she was still grieving. So were scores of families. She feared some affected might see it as insensitive. The committee wrote to her but she politely said no.'

Another source added, 'She was deeply moved and honoured. She didn’t decline it as such but explained it was not the right time to accept.'

The singer has yet to comment on this.