Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe delivers a speech during his campaign rally in Banket, about 100 kilometres west of Harare, on Tuesday, the day before the Queen stripped him of his honorary knighthood. (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/Associated Press)

In the wake of political violence gripping Zimbabwe, Queen Elizabeth has stripped Robert Mugabe of his honorary knighthood, an extremely rare move by the British monarchy.

The Queen revoked the honour acting on the advice of Foreign Secretary David Miliband. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that Britain no longer recognizes Mugabe as Zimbabwe's legitimate leader.

"This action has been taken as a mark of revulsion at the abuse of human rights and abject disregard for the democratic process in Zimbabwe over which President Mugabe has presided," Britain's Foreign Office said Wednesday in a statement.

The revoking of the honour follows international condemnation of the widespread violence and intimidation against Zimbabwe's opposition before a presidential run-off this week. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the vote, saying he fears for his life.

Scores of his supporters have been attacked and killed in recent weeks by police, soldiers and militant members of the ruling party.

Britain and the U.S. have said they will not recognize the result of this weekend's run-off because Tsvangirai has withdrawn, but Mugabe has refused to call off the race.

Mugabe was made an honorary knight in 1994, when he was considered an anti-colonial hero. Honorary knighthoods are conferred on people who are not British citizens, but are recommended by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and approved by the Queen.

The late Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu was stripped of his title in 1989 at the height of the Balkan nation's revolution.

With files from the Associated Press