Rio Ferdinand receives OBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle

Rio Ferdinand is joined by wife Kate as he receives his OBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle investiture ceremony – with gongs also awarded to swimmer Adam Peaty, comedian Adam Hills and ex DUP leader Arlene Foster

• Footballing hero Rio is made an OBE during a ceremony at Windsor Castle 
• Rio, who turned 44 yesterday, was presented the honour by the Prince of Wales 
• The ex-England ace set up the Rio Ferdinand Foundation to help young people
• He dedicated the award to his late mother, Janice and said: ‘It means a lot to me’ 

English football legend Rio Ferdinand has been made an OBE today during a service led by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle. 

The ex-Manchester United defender, who won 81 caps playing for the Three Lions, was presented the honour a day after turning 44 in recognition to his services to sport and charity work.

It comes after the sports star-turned-pundit established the Rio Ferdinand Foundation to support young people in disadvantaged communities.

His loving wife Kate watched on as father-of-four Rio was made an OBE by Prince William. 

Rio has spent years battling a range of issues, from racism to a lack of social mobility for children and young adults.

Rio’s OBE comes after he set up the Rio Ferdinand Foundation to support young people in disadvantaged communities. He is pictured at Windsor Castle with his wife Kate Ferdinand

The 44-year-old received the accolade from Prince William (pictured) during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle 

The retired footballing ace also won plaudits for appearing in a BBC documentary about bereavement, where he spoke about the loss of his wife Rebcecca, 34, to breast cancer in 2015.  

Rio has worked to raise awareness for breast cancer after Rebecca’s death, which was tragically followed by the death of his mother, Janice St Fort, from the same disease aged 58 in 2017.  

Speaking to Sky News moments after receiving the honour, Rio said: ‘This obviously means a lot. The inspiration behind this was my mum and my dad… it means a lot to me.’ 

He said it was ‘hugely important’ for him to keep working to support disadvantaged young people through his foundation to give them better ‘opportunities’ to have a ‘real chance of changing their lives’. 

‘I’ve had a chance to do that through football and I am really trying to put that in place for other people coming through,’ he added.  

Rio was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June and dedicated his OBE to his late mother, Janice St Fort. 

In a video posted on his Instagram earlier this year, Rio began: ‘I want to say a huge thank you to the queen and everyone that put me on the honour list for this year.

‘But I can’t sit here and take this accolade on my own, I think the support that I have had from all of the people within the foundation have played their roles, the young people that have been helped too.’

He continued: ‘My mum was the inspiration behind this foundation. I looked up to her, her willingness to help other people, the want and desire to change people’s perspectives and life in terms of opportunities.

‘Having the will and desire to do that and to keep pushing. To keep asking corporations, different councils, members of parliament to help young people have dreams and the possibility to help realise those dreams.

‘No matter how big or how small but having that one dream in your life, we feel is very important for everybody walking this earth to have something to focus on and really gear towards.

Rio was named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June and dedicated his OBE to his late mother Janice St Fort, pictured

‘But you also need a framework, the structure to do that and that is what our foundation is about.’

He collected the OBE during a stunning ceremony at Windsor Castle, with Prince William presenting Rio with the honour.   

Also being recognised during two investiture ceremonies hosted by the Prince of Wales was Olympic champion swimmer Adam Peaty, who will be made an OBE for services to swimming.

Peaty became the first British swimmer to retain an Olympic title with a stunning display in the final of the men’s 100 metres breaststroke at Tokyo 2020.

Arlene Foster, the former Stormont First Minister and ex-leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, will be made a Dame Commander for public and political service.

Australian TV presenter and comic, Adam Hills, will be made an MBE for services to Paralympic sport and disability awareness  

The 52-year-old is best known for hosting Channel 4’s The Last Leg with Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker.

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