GIRL POWER
Giddy Mel B beams as she curtsies to Prince William while receiving MBE in front of proud mum
BRAVE Mel B beamed today as she was made an MBE by Prince William for her powerful work with domestic violence victims.
The former Spice Girl was joined by her proud mum Andrea to receive the royal honour at Buckingham Palace in the first major investiture at the Queen's London residence since the start of the pandemic.
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She was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
Mel, who wore a red dress designed by Spice Girls bandmate Victoria Beckham, curtsied to the Duke of Cambridge as she received her gong.
The Women's Aid patron said the honour was not for her but instead for the women killed by their partners.
It came after she bravely opened up to The Sun last year about her own abuse ordeal.
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She said: "I went through a horrendous abusive marriage which nearly killed me.
"I got out of it and ever since I’ve tried to help other women — and men — who have been through or are going through abuse in whatever shape or form.
"And there was this letter saying the Prime Minister had spoken to the Queen about giving me an MBE.
"I thought about all the women I’ve met over the past few years who have been through terrible situations, women who have died, women who are still suffering. This, for me, was all about them. It still is."
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Mel revealed how she had driven to her father Martin's grave after she discovered she was being given an MBE.
He died from cancer following an eight-year battle in 2017.
The singer said her dad "started the journey I will be on for the rest of my life" as she worked to raise awareness of domestic abuse.
Today's ceremony was doubly poignant for Mel as she posed with mum Andrea outside the Palace.
The pair fell out in 2008 following the star's marriage to Stephen Belafonte, who Mel claimed emotionally and physically abused her.
After their split in 2017, Andrea tweeted: "4 the 1st time in almost 10yrs I can go 2 bed knowing my daughter and the kids r safe no more abuse 4 any of us."
Asked about her conversation with William, she said: "He commended me on all my work that I've been doing, and he goes, 'I'm so sorry you went through such a horrible time'.
"He did say, 'I can't believe I'm giving you one of these - I'm delighted', and I said, 'Aw thank you' and we had a giggle."
She also hinted at more to come from the Spice Girls, adding: "There's so much stuff but I don't want to say anything until it's actually happening and I don't want to jinx myself and I always blurt everything out first, so I'm keeping quiet this time - revelling in this moment."
ROYAL HONOURS
Watford Football Club manager Roy Hodgson, 74, who was England boss during a four-year stint from 2012 to 2016, also received his honour at the ceremony today.
Hodgson was made a CBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to football.
Others collecting awards include radio presenter Simon Mayo and actress Ruth Wilson.
Paralympians Chris Ryan and Thomas Young will also be honoured.
Mayo, 63, joined the BBC in 1982 and has since worked for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 2.
The presenter, who has also written six novels and hosted a critically acclaimed film review show with Mark Kermode, was made an MBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours list for his service to broadcasting and charity.
Meanwhile, Wilson, 40, who has starred in hit TV series such as The Affair and Luther and won two Olivier awards, will also be honoured on Wednesday.
The actress was made an MBE in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to drama.
She will be joined by wheelchair rugby player Ryan, 30, who was part of the GB team that won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
He was made an MBE for services to wheelchair rugby in the 2022 New Year Honours list.
Fellow Paralympian Young, who won the gold medal in the men's 100 metres T38 event in Tokyo, will receive his award as well.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
The 21-year-old was also made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for services to athletics.
The last investiture at the palace was on March 12, 2020, just before the first lockdown, and was conducted by the Prince of Wales, who opted for a namaste as he greeted recipients in a bid to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
A week earlier, the Queen had chosen to wear long white gloves as she carried out an investiture.
The Palace has been undergoing a 10-year £369 million renovation project to update the essential services in the historic building, but work has been phased for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "The Reservicing Programme has been phased to allow for key events to be delivered at Buckingham Palace throughout the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, including investitures in the State Rooms, and Garden Parties."
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Investitures will continue to take place at both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace over the summer.
The change does not represent a permanent return to investitures at the Palace because the building project is yet to be completed.
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