Fifteen years ago, Goulding performed at the Prince and Princess of Wales’ royal wedding reception at Buckingham Palace
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NEED TO KNOW
- Ellie Goulding received an MBE at an investiture ceremony led by Prince William at Windsor Castle
- Goulding performed at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s 2011 royal wedding and is friends with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
- The singer is a UN Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador and was honored in King Charles’ New Year Honours List 2026
Prince William had a royal reunion with Ellie Goulding in a very special ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The Prince of Wales, 44, presented the “Love Me Like You Do” singer, 39, with her medal, awarding her to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), Civil Division, for her services to biodiversity and the climate on May 13.
Goulding performed at Prince William’s royal wedding reception to Kate Middleton in April 2011, singing with a live band for the couple’s first dance to Elton John’s “Your Song.”
“William and Kate were in the middle, giving it their all,” a guest told PEOPLE in 2011 about the bash at the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace. “They really went for it. They were in the full party spirit and stayed until the last minute.”
The pop star — who is friends with William’s cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie — was made an MBE in King Charles‘ New Year Honours List 2026 for her environmental activism.
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The “Burn” singer was recognized for her efforts as a UN Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador and World Wildlife Fund Ambassador, and the Prince of Wales was just the person to present her honor. Prince William is a passionate advocate for the environment and founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020 as a global environmental contest aiming to galvanize positive change through the next decade.
In 2022, Goulding performed at the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony, held that year in Boston, and had a warm chat with the Prince and Princess of Wales backstage.
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Investiture ceremonies are held to celebrate the individuals recognized for their outstanding contributions to the U.K. and British Overseas Territories in the Honours lists, which are released twice a year by the British Cabinet Office.
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King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince William are the royal family members who currently helm the events, and Goulding shared a joyful message about her ceremony to remember on Wednesday.
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“Extremely cool day x,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories over a photo that showed her smiling with her medal on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
