Livia Firth tears up MBE certificate in protest of Trump visit

Livia Giuggioli Firth, the eco-activist behind Eco Age and the former wife of actor Colin Firth, has publicly returned her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and torn up the certificate in protest of Donald Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom. In an Instagram post, she shared a handwritten letter she said she would send to St James’s Palace, writing: "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 gesture underscores a long-running pattern of high-profile activism around environmental and social issues in her public life.

The MBE had been awarded in 2019 for her campaigning work on garment workers’ rights, a cornerstone of her public profile as a fashion sustainability advocate. The latest act comes amid a broader public conversation about the optics of royal and political events and the role of celebrity figures in political critique. In her post, she tied the symbolic move to a broader critique of the UK’s stance toward the Trump presidency and the values she believes Britain should uphold in its leadership and environmental commitments.

Livia Firth’s public life has long intersected with Colin Firth’s star status and with fashion-industry eco-activism. The couple, who were married for 22 years, separated amid revelations of infidelity on her part. The relationship later ended in divorce, though Firth briefly reconciled with Livia before they finalized their separation. The actor has since moved on and is reported to be in a relationship with screenwriter Maggie Cohn, who is 63 years old. Livia, meanwhile, is described in public accounts as being with climate activist Callum Grieve, continuing her focus on environmental causes and sustainable fashion.

Before her marriage to Firth, and continuing through their years together, Livia built a profile as a high-profile advocate for ethical fashion and worker rights. Her work with Eco Age, a consultancy and brand that promotes sustainable design and responsible production, helped bring attention to environmental issues within the fashion industry. The enterprise, once housed in a boutique in Chiswick, southwest London, offered products and collaborations intended to reduce environmental impact. The store, which featured a vertical garden on its exterior, became a visible symbol of her mission to blend activism with luxury aesthetics. By the late 2010s and into the following decade, Eco Age had moved beyond retail to advisory roles with brands seeking to improve supply chains, though reports from the period indicate the physical shop had closed by the time of later documentation.

In interviews and public statements, Livia often framed her work in terms of responsibility tied to privilege. She has said that those who can influence fashion and consumer behavior bear a duty to act with environmental and social awareness. Her approach linked recycled materials, upcycling, and sustainable sourcing to broader concerns about climate change, consumerism, and the exploitation she says can accompany rapid globalization. The boutique and its programmatic emphasis on eco-conscious products—such as bags and accessories made from repurposed materials—were presented as practical examples of this philosophy, even as critics questioned the feasibility and reach of such efforts within high-end fashion.

The personal history surrounding Livia and Colin Firth has often colored public perception of her activism. After years of marriage, the couple’s separation and divorce were public, partially due to revelations of an extramarital affair that occurred while they were together. Colin Firth’s subsequent relationship with writer Maggie Cohn has been reported in entertainment coverage, while Livia has maintained her own public profile through environmental initiatives and media appearances. The dynamics of their personal lives have repeatedly intersected with discussions about celebrity influence, philanthropy, and the responsibilities that come with public visibility in the realm of culture and entertainment.

The latest move—returning the MBE and tearing up the certificate—has been interpreted by some observers as a provocative statement about the values she believes the United Kingdom should uphold, particularly in the context of a state visit by a controversial international figure. Others argue that such gestures can distract from substantive policy debate about climate change, human rights, and workers’ protections. Regardless of interpretation, the act reinforces the enduring link between celebrity activism and public policy discourse within cultural and entertainment circles, where personalities from film, fashion, and media increasingly use their platforms to spotlight global issues.

As debates continue over the optics of protests by public figures and the role of awards in signaling values, Livia Firth’s action adds another chapter to a long-running conversation about accountability, influence, and environmental advocacy in celebrity culture. Her supporters view the move as a principled stand against what she sees as complicity with environmental harm; critics may see it as a dramatic gesture with limited practical impact on policy or industry practices. In either case, the incident has kept Eco Age and its associated conversations about sustainable fashion in the public eye, underscoring how activism, celebrity, and commerce intersect in today’s cultural landscape.