Strictly star Claudia Winkleman receives MBE from King Charles at Windsor Castle
King Charles presented the honour to the Strictly presenter on Tuesday
British TV star Claudia Winkleman was all smiles on Tuesday as she received her MBE from King Charles during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The beloved Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors presenter was recognised in the king’s Birthday Honours for her contributions to broadcasting.
The milestone comes just weeks before Claudia and her long-time co-host Tess Daly bid farewell to Strictly, the British version of Dancing with the Stars.
Tess received her MBE last month. These honours mark a fitting send-off for the duo who’ve fronted the BBC dance competition together since 2014. Tess originally joined the show in 2004.
Claudia Winkleman receives MBE
Claudia was joined at the ceremony by her family, including her husband Kris Thykier, mother Eve Pollard, and father Barry Winkleman.
In photos shared by HELLO!, she posed proudly on the castle grounds in a sophisticated ivory suit and matching headband.
Sharing a photo from the day on Instagram, Claudia said she was “speechless”. The TV star described the moment as “an incredible morning and an enormous honour”.
The honour comes as Claudia prepares to exit Strictly. But fans won’t be without her for long.
She’s set to return to screens on New Year’s Day with a brand new season of The Traitors. The wildly popular reality gameshow is set in the Scottish Highlands.
Since launching in 2022, The Traitors has become a cultural phenomenon.
The show recently aired its first celebrity spin-off. The nail-biting finale ended with comedian Alan Carr dramatically clinching victory from Faithfuls David Olusoga and Nick Mohammed.
Claudia’s broadcasting career spans decades, beginning with BBC’s Comic Relief and The Great British Sewing Bee.
King Charles update
Soon, King Charles will take a break from duties for the festive period. He’s expected to host the royal family at Sandringham again this year.
This week, King Charles and Queen Camilla unveiled their official 2025 Christmas card.
The card features a striking photograph taken during the couple’s state visit to Italy in April 2025.
Captured in the gardens of Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence in Rome, the image shows the king and queen arm-in-arm, sharing a warm, relaxed smile. Charles is dressed in a dark blue pinstripe suit, while Camilla dons a long, elegant cream dress.
The photo, taken by royal photographer Chris Jackson, was also chosen to mark the couple’s 20th wedding anniversary.
Framed with a bold red border, it is accompanied by the simple message: “Wishing you a very happy Christmas and New Year.”
It’s their fourth official Christmas card since Charles ascended the throne. With the Rome visit taking place only weeks before the passing of Pope Francis, the photo now serves as a touching reminder.
Cards signed personally by the king and queen will now be sent across the globe to world leaders, family, friends, and organisations.
Read more: King Charles’ ‘great worry’ as he warns of ‘ghastly horror’ in ITV documentary with Steve Backshall
What do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page @RoyalInsider. We want to know your thoughts!
