MARCUS Rashford today took his proud mum to watch him receive an MBE from Prince William for his heroic school-meals campaign.
The England striker, 24, was pictured gleaming with mum Melanie in the grounds of Windsor Castle ahead of the ceremony hosted by the Duke of Cambridge.
He was later seen smiling as he thanked the prince, who appeared to chat away as he fixed the honour to his coat.
The striker said he would be giving his MBE to his mum, who raised him and his four brothers and sisters.
Rashford was recognised today for his campaign which helped feed 1.3million of Britain’s poorest kids over the summer holidays.
It resulted in the Government changing policy over its free school-meals vouchers during lockdown and made the striker a national hero.
He said his motivation was to give the nation’s youngsters the things he did not have when growing up and stressed every child deserves an “opportunity”.
Speaking after today’s investiture ceremony, Marcus 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 kid.
“If I did have, I would have been much better off and had many more options in my life.”
He added: “For me it’s a punishment for them not to be getting things like meals or supplies of books.”
The England forward has gone on to form a child food poverty taskforce, which has linked up with some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets and food brands.
He has repeatedly called for the free school-meal provision to be extended to all seven to 18-year-olds in households earning £20,000 or less after benefits, and to children that are undocumented or living in immigrant households with no recourse to public funds.
Last month he launched a new fight to end the ‘child hunger pandemic’ and urged ministers to act on the growing problem.
Last month, he was awarded a doctorate for his work- becoming the youngest person to ever receive an honorary degree from the University of Manchester.
And earlier this week he was named Person of the Year by The Bookseller for getting children reading.
Today marks the first investiture William has hosted since the pandemic began.
Earlier today, the duke said he was “pleased to be back” and shared a photo of an honour online resting on a velvet cushion.
His personally signed message read: “Pleased to be back doing investitures in person, celebrating people across the UK who have gone above and beyond for their country and community. W”.
The Queen, who is currently resting and doing only “light duties” on doctors’ orders, was not present at today’s investiture.
She returned to Windsor Castle earlier today after enjoying a long weekend away at her Sandringham estate.
Buckingham Palace has said it is the Queen’s “firm intention” to attend the annual Remembrance Sunday wreath-laying service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday to honour Britain’s war dead.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
