Claudia Winkleman looked over the moon to have been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
The Strictly Come Dancing host, 53, was honoured for her services to broadcasting, weeks after her Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly received her own MBE.
Claudia, who was wearing a stylish white suit and headband, was pictured shaking hands with the Monarch as he bestowed the honour during an investiture ceremony.
The TV star was supported by her husband Kris Thykier and her parents Eve Pollard and Barry Winkleman, who were seen watching on from the sidelines.
Her sister, Sophie Winkleman, who is a member of the Royal family after marrying Lord Frederick Windsor, did not appear to be in attendance on the day.
When it was announced Claudia was on the King’s Birthday Honours list in June, she said she was ‘incredibly grateful’ to have been made an MBE.
At the time, Claudia said: ‘I am incredibly grateful to receive this honour.
‘It’s a real privilege to work with extraordinarily talented people and I have only got this because of them. So this is for the BBC, the Traitors and the Faithful, for pianos and for the cha cha.’
The mother of three, who shares her kids Jake, Matilda, and Arthur Thykier with husband Kris, revealed who she would be taking with her to Windsor Castle.
While she is very close to her family, there is one person in particular she had in mind to accompany her, saying: ‘I will buy a hat and am taking my mum.
‘I am ridiculously lucky and will celebrate with Tess by doing a paso doble.’
The King and the Queen are dedicated watchers of the BBC dance programme, which last year celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Claudia and Tess have been part of the Strictly team since its launch in 2004, with Tess presenting the main show with Sir Bruce Forsyth and Claudia, 53, hosting the BBC2 spin-off It Takes Two.
After impressing BBC bosses, Claudia was promoted to hosting the Sunday results show alongside Tess before becoming the main co-host in 2014 following the departure of Sir Bruce when he reduced his workload.
Last year, the Queen described herself as ‘one of Strictly’s greatest fans’ and told Strictly professional dancer Johannes Radebe ‘we all watch it’.
Tess’s husband the BBC radio presenter Vernon Kay has previously talked of the ‘real friendship’ that has formed between his wife and Her Majesty, with the Queen even keen to know what goes on behind-the-scenes.
Vernon, 51, said: ‘Camilla and Tess have a real friendship through it now. They don’t text, but we have mutual friends and messages come through.
‘When they see each other, the Queen is always asking: “Who is your favourite?” She wants to know the backstage gossip.
‘It’s crazy to think of the King and Queen sat on the sofa with a brew watching your wife present Strictly.’
Her Majesty has hosted a palace tea party for Strictly where she danced with former professional Brendan Cole, been in the audience and filmed a video message for the 2020 final, which was won by Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse.
The Queen is a keen dancer who has attended Silver Swans, classes for elderly ballet dancers run by the Royal Academy of Dance.
The news brought some joy to the Strictly team after a difficult few years as it faced a number of complaints about mistreatment on the show, which led to the departures of professionals Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima last year.
While celebrities Wynne Evans and Jamie Borthwick have also faced accusations of inappropriate behavior on this year’s Strictly tour.
Both Strictly hosts engage in charity work including Tess, who is a proud supporter of the King’s Trust and patron of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, and Winkleman, who is a patron of Child Bereavement UK and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.
Claudia was raised in London in a media-connected family, her mother is journalist and editor Eve Pollard.
She studied Art History at Cambridge University before branching out into broadcasting in the early 90s.
She appeared on programmes such as Holiday as well as working as a travel writer, later contributing lifestyle and opinion columns to publications including The Independent.
Her national profile rose significantly when she hosted It Takes Two from 2004 to 2010, a role that paved the way for her to become co-host of the main programme in 2014 alongside Tess.
Beyond Strictly, Claudia built a varied career across television and radio, including hosting The Great British Sewing Bee and presenting shows on BBC Radio 2.
In 2022 she became the face of the hit series The Traitors, earning widespread acclaim and a BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance in 2023.
In 2025 it was announced that she and Tess Daly would leave Strictly, marking a major transition in her career amid speculation about future projects, including a potential BBC primetime chat show.
Off screen, Claudia married film producer Kris in 2000, and they have three children.
Her distinctive fringe and signature smoky-eye look have become part of her public identity, adding to the recognisable charm that has made her one of Britain’s most beloved broadcasters.
Last month, her co-host Tess was supported by husband Vernon and lookalike daughter Phoebe as she was honoured by King Charles at an investiture ceremony.
She was made an MBE for her services to broadcasting and charity work as she dedicated the accolade to her late father Vivian who passed away in 2003, just 18 days after her marriage to the Radio 2 DJ, 51.
Tess looked gorgeous in a red caped midi dress for the occasion which she teamed with a matching fascinator and nude heels.
Phoebe, 21, was also dressed to impress as she followed in her mother’s fashionable footsteps and wore a cream lace look along with a pillbox hat.
Meanwhile Vernon, who also shares 16-year-old daughter Amber with his wife, looked smart in a navy suit as he beamed with pride.
Tess revealed the King ‘put her at ease’ during the ceremony as she described the honour as the ‘greatest of her career’.
‘I’ve been working in television for 25 years, and it’s a job I absolutely love to do. It was a real privilege to be in a room of people who have made a difference in their communities, who have built incredible careers. It was a very inspiring environment.’
Tess continued: ‘His Majesty put me at ease – I was quite nervous. We talked about [Strictly Come Dancing] and I know the Queen enjoys it. She sent me a letter of congratulations when I received the MBE which meant the world.
‘[The King] thanked me for the work I have done for his charity as well – the King’s Trust. We talked about the funds that it’s raised and how many young people’s lives this has made a huge difference to and I’m very proud to be an ambassador of this charity.’
Before adding: ‘It’s for my family as much as it is for myself. If I could dedicate it to anyone, I would dedicate it to my late dad because he’d be so proud of his daughter meeting the King, in a castle.’
