Footballer Marcus Rashford has been made an MBE for service to vulnerable children in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, honoured Rashford with the MBE.

The Manchester United and England striker was recognised for his work in campaigning for school children to not go hungry during the pandemic. Last year, Rashford campaigned extensively for school children to have free school meals while schools were closed during lockdown. The government changed their policy on free school meal vouchers.

The 24 year old was joined by his mother, Melanie, who has had a food bank warehouse named after her due to her work surrounding food poverty.

Rashford being awarded an MBE was part of the first in-person investitures ceremonies that Prince William has held since the start of the pandemic. In the following tweet, Prince William said he was "pleased to be back doing investitures in person".

Speaking after the ceremony, Rashford said: "It seems like there's a lot going on but for me to put it in the simplest way - I'm trying to give children the things I didn't have when I was a kid. If I did have, I would have been much better off and had many more options in my life. I'm just giving them the opportunity and I think they deserve the opportunity, which child doesn't. For me, it's a punishment for them not to be getting things like meals or supplies of books."

He continued: "And if we can all come together to make these small changes - they are small changes but they become big changes once you see the rewards of it - I see a generation that's coming after me as a very special generation. They just need a bit of guidance and pointing in the right direction and what I'm doing is giving them that."