Environmental activist Livia Firth has renounced her MBE in protest against Britain's reception of Donald Trump during his recent UK visit.
The 56-year-old former spouse of actor Colin Firth posted footage on Instagram showing herself destroying the certificate she received six years ago.
The Italian-born campaigner dispatched the medal to St James's Palace on Wednesday, declaring she could not retain the honour whilst witnessing the American president being "appeased and honoured" in Britain.
"Because I can't reconcile those two positions, I have shredded my honour and I am returning it to sender," she stated in correspondence to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.
Colin and Livia Firth split in 2019
|GETTY
The sustainability advocate received her MBE in 2019 for contributions to the fashion sector.
In her handwritten correspondence, mistakenly dated October rather than September, Ms Firth condemned what she termed a "frightening and cowardly display of appeasement" towards Trump.
"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," she wrote.
The filmmaker expressed disappointment with King Charles, stating: "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."
Social media posts included images of the medal in its presentation box alongside her protest letter.
Ms Firth established herself as a pioneering figure in ethical fashion through her Green Carpet Challenge initiative, which saw Hollywood celebrities including Meryl Streep and Emma Watson wearing sustainably-produced designer gowns at major awards ceremonies.
The Rome-born businesswoman co-established Eco-Age, a groundbreaking consultancy focused on sustainability, and has counselled prominent luxury brands on ethical practices.
Her advocacy extended to addressing the United Nations on workers' rights and creating documentaries exposing fast fashion's exploitative practices.
Despite opposing the British Empire's historical legacy, she accepted the 2019 honour to represent garment workers and activists who had supported her campaigns.
"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 explained in her letter.
The campaigner first encountered Colin Firth whilst working as a production assistant on the BBC's Nostromo in 1996, marrying him the subsequent year.
Livia Firth tore up her MBE certificate
|The pair had two sons during their 22-year marriage: Luca, now 24, and Matteo, 22.
Their relationship ended in 2019 following complications arising from Firth's involvement with Italian journalist Marco Brancaccia during a brief separation between 2015 and 2016.
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Livia Firth labelled the UK's welcoming of President Trump as 'appeasement'
| PAInitial allegations of stalking against Brancaccia, later withdrawn, contributed to the marriage's ultimate dissolution.
Throughout her marriage to the Oscar-winning performer, Ms Firth frequently accompanied him at premieres, utilising her visibility to advocate for sustainable fashion.
Following their divorce, she has maintained her standing as a globally recognised environmental advocate, continuing to influence major fashion houses on sustainability matters.
She signed her protest letter as "Livia Giuggioli (Firth)".