Ellie Goulding received an MBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, recognising her services to biodiversity and the climate. The 39-year-old singer, who welcomed her second child in March, beamed as the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) was pinned to her white peplum blazer. She wore a white suit with a brown detail around the hips, completed with a netted hat.
UN Ambassador and Honours Recognition
Ellie is a global environmental ambassador for the United Nations and was named in the New Year Honours list. In January, she shared photos on Instagram of her activist work, including speaking at the UN and with former US Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. She wrote: 'It is such a great honour to receive an MBE for services to biodiversity and climate. From the get go I have been guided and helped by women in this space.' She added: 'Last year we really saw and felt how much the climate and nature crisis is intensifying. But we continue to be carried forward by the incredible women holding the line - scientists, activists, lawyers, communicators, teachers, farmers, mothers, aunties, Indigenous leaders, and youth voices.'
Activism and Patronage
In 2013, Ellie participated in the Chime For Change concert, a global female empowerment initiative founded by Beyoncé, Salma Hayek-Pinault, and Frida Giannini. She is also patron of The Marylebone Project, supporting homeless women, and an ambassador for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Appointed a global goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme in 2017, she now serves as a global environmental ambassador.
In September 2018, she called on the fashion industry to embrace sustainability while accepting the Eco Award at Fashion 4 Development's First Ladies Luncheon. A month later, she addressed 85 heads of state at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London. She also took part in the One Young World Summit in 2019, discussing climate change, conflict, and human rights.
Ellie collaborated with Sir David Attenborough in 2019 for the Our Planet series, providing the song 'In This Together'. A groundbreaking initiative last year saw Nature recognised as an official artist on major streaming platforms; Ellie collaborated with the sounds of Nature for a track generating conservation funding through royalties. Her Brightest Blue remix, featuring Nature, used sounds from Colombian rainforests, including speckled chachalacas and Amazonian oropendolas.
Personal Life and Musical Career
Ellie welcomed her second child, a baby girl named Iris Edaline, on March 6, with boyfriend Beau Minniear. She also has a four-year-old son, Arthur, from her previous marriage to Caspar Jopling. Born Elena Jane Goulding on December 30, 1986, in Hereford, she played clarinet and guitar as a child and developed her passion for music via MySpace. At age 23, she won the Critics' Choice Brit Award and topped the BBC's Sound Of 2010 poll.
Her debut album, Lights, featuring hit 'Starry Eyed', reached number one in the UK albums chart. Other number one albums include Halcyon (2012), Brightest Blue (2020), and Higher Than Heaven (2023). She has had four number one singles and collaborated with Tinie Tempah, Calvin Harris, and Major Lazer. Her cover of Joni Mitchell's 'River' topped the charts in early 2020; its music video highlighted environmentalism, featuring a zero-waste Christmas tree made from beach litter. Earlier, her cover of Elton John's 'Your Song' peaked at number two in 2010. Over 15 years, Goulding has earned awards including musician of the year from Harper's Bazaar, two Brits, and two Grammy nominations.
