Prince William Honors Olympian Keely Hodgkinson with MBE, Martin Brundle Awarded OBE at Windsor Castle

Keely Hodgkinson Receives MBE from Prince William After Historic Olympic Victory

[Image: Keely Hodgkinson smiling as Prince William presents her MBE at Windsor Castle. Caption: Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson received her MBE from Prince William on Tuesday.]

British track star Keely Hodgkinson, 23, was awarded an MBE by Prince William at Windsor Castle this week, honoring her gold medal win in the women’s 800m at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The achievement made her the first British track and field athlete to claim Olympic gold since Sir Mo Farah in 2016 and only the third British woman to secure the 800m title, joining legends Ann Packer and Dame Kelly Holmes.

During the ceremony, Hodgkinson shared a lighthearted moment with the Prince of Wales, who revealed his daughter Princess Charlotte is an aspiring athlete. “He told me his daughter is doing the 400m and hurdles and watched me in Paris,” Hodgkinson said. “He wished he could’ve been there to see my race live.”

[Image: Hodgkinson and Prince William laughing during the MBE presentation. Caption: The pair shared a laugh discussing Princess Charlotte’s passion for running.]

From Silver to Gold
Hodgkinson’s Paris victory marked a triumphant upgrade from her silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Her stellar year also included defending her European title and earning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in December 2024. However, her momentum was interrupted in February 2025 by a hamstring injury, forcing her to withdraw from several competitions, including her own Keely Klassic event.

Now recovered, Hodgkinson is set to return to the track at June’s Stockholm Diamond League meet, with her sights on the World Championships in Tokyo later this year. “I’m back in full training and feeling good,” she said. “The goal remains the same: gold in Tokyo.”

[Image: Hodgkinson celebrating her 800m Olympic victory in Paris. Caption: Hodgkinson’s gold medal made her a British athletics icon.]

Brundle Honored for Motorsport Legacy
Also recognized at Windsor Castle was former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle, who received an OBE for services to motorsport and broadcasting. The Sky Sports analyst, known for his charismatic grid walks, expressed pride that the honor acknowledged his dual career. “I’m thrilled it’s not just for gridwalking,” joked Brundle, who raced in F1 from 1984 to 1996, earning nine podium finishes.

[Image: Martin Brundle holding his OBE medal. Caption: Brundle’s OBE celebrates his racing career and broadcasting work.]

Despite his on-track success, Brundle has gained newfound fame through his pre-race interviews, often navigating celebrity snubs with humor. “I’ll be remembered for being ignored by Megan Thee Stallion, not beating Senna,” he quipped.

Looking Ahead
As Hodgkinson prepares for her comeback, she remains focused on overcoming her World Championships silver streak. “It’s been 10 months since I last raced—the longest break of my career,” she said. “But I’ll be ready.”

[Image: Hodgkinson holding her BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy. Caption: The athlete’s 2024 accolades include BBC’s top sports honor.]

With royal approval and a healed hamstring, Hodgkinson’s determination shines as she aims to add more hardware to her growing legacy.

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