Ashley Banjo was awarded an MBE by the Princess Royal (Picture: PA/Instagram)
Ashley Banjo brought his mother with him to pick up his MBE for his services to dance.
The Diversity star was awarded the honour by the Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, and he couldn’t have looked prouder.
Celebrating the milestone moment, he penned: ‘So I went to Windsor Castle with my mum to pick up something a little bit special today🎖
‘Humbled, grateful and feeling hopeful for the future. Thanks again to everyone that has supported me, my team and my family over the years. Onwards and upwards. Ashley Banjo MBE.’
Pictures from the ceremony captured the very moment that Princess Anne pinned the medal onto his crips suit as he stepped forward.
Ashley appeared in good spirits and flashed a huge smile as he was presented with the honour.
He later posed for photographs with the accolade.
Performer Ashley shot to fame with Diversity, with the dance troupe beating Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.
Since then, he has served as a presenter and judge on a number of television shows, including Dancing On Ice and
Banjo has since appeared as presenter and judge on several prime-time television shows, including as a judge on ITV’s Dancing On Ice and Dance Dance Dance.
Last year, Diversity was awarded the TV Bafta for Must-See Moment for its Black Lives Matter routine on Britain’s Got Talent.
Ashley couldn’t have looked prouder as he posed with the honour (Picture: PA)
The dancer popped to Windsor Castle for the milestone moment in his career (Picture: PA)
In June, Ashley performed for the Queen at the BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace.
Speaking backstage about the late monarch, the Diversity dancer said: ‘An icon is an understatement. She’s just an extremely special person, such a unique human for the country and the world.’
He also spoke of the group’s excitement at being given the opportunity to perform at the Jubilee concert.
Diversity performed using a number of British songs popular throughout the Queen’s reign.
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Moving from the sixties to the songs of today, the group danced to The Beatles’ She Loves You, the Bee Gees’ Night Fever and David Bowie’s Let’s Dance.
They then danced to the Spice Girls’ Spice Up Your Life, One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful and Stormzy’s Big For Your Boots.
They finished their routine by hailing the music of the country.
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‘Onwards and upwards’.
