The recognition comes just ahead of the singer’s 39th birthday on Tuesday

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s close friend Ellie Goulding has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles in the New Year Honours list, recognising for her dedication to biodiversity and climate causes.

The Hereford-born singer, who serves as a global environmental ambassador for the United Nations, receives the honour following years of advocacy work on ecological issues.

 

Ms Goulding was first appointed as a global goodwill ambassador for the UN Environment Programme back in 2017, a role that has since evolved into her current position championing environmental causes on the world stage.

The recognition comes just ahead of the singer’s 39th birthday on Tuesday.

Click here to read the New Year Honours List 2026 in full.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Ellie Goulding

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s close friend Ellie Goulding has been awarded an MBE by King Charles in the New Year Honours list, recognising for her dedication to biodiversity and climate causes.| GETTY

The chart-topping artist enjoys close ties to the British Royal Family, having performed at the 2011 wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton, where she sang “Your Song” for the couple’s first dance.

Beyond that memorable performance, Ms Goulding maintains friendships with other members of the royal household, counting Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice among her close acquaintances.

The singer attended both Beatrice and Eugenie’s wedding ceremonies.

Ms Goulding’s environmental credentials extend well beyond her UN role, having collaborated with Sir David Attenborough in 2019 by contributing the track “In This Together” to the acclaimed Our Planet documentary series.

Ellie Goulding

The chart-topping artist enjoys close ties to the British Royal Family, having performed at the 2011 wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton. | GETTY

The singer has also found innovative ways to merge her musical talents with conservation efforts, participating in a pioneering initiative that established Nature as an official artist on streaming platforms.

Through this project, Ms Goulding created a remix of her Brightest Blue track incorporating sounds from Colombian rainforests, with royalties generated going directly towards conservation funding.

She additionally serves as an ambassador for the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Ellie Goulding

Ms Goulding’s environmental credentials extend well beyond her UN role, having collaborated with Sir David Attenborough in 2019 by contributing the track “In This Together” to the acclaimed Our Planet documentary series. | GETTY

The MBE caps a remarkable career spanning more than 15 years in the music industry for the Hereford native, born Elena Jane Goulding.

Her debut record Lights shot straight to the top of the UK albums chart, propelled by the hit Starry Eyed, and she has since achieved three further number one albums: Halcyon, Brightest Blue and Higher Than Heaven.

Across her career, Ms Goulding has accumulated four chart-topping singles, two Brit Awards, two Grammy nominations, and collaborations with artists including Calvin Harris and Major Lazer.