Rio Ferdinand and Adam Peaty awarded OBEs

They've been to Windsor Castle to pick up their honours

Rio Ferdinand gets an OBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle
Author: Chris MaskeryPublished 8th Nov 2022
Last updated 8th Nov 2022

Former Manchester United and England footballer Rio Ferdinand has been awarded an OBE from the Prince of Wales today.

Swimmer Adam Peaty, politician Arlene Foster and presenter Adam Hills have also collected honours at Windsor Castle today.

Ferdinand, who won 81 England caps, was made an OBE for services to his sport and charity work - he's worked to tackle a range of issues from racism to a lack of social mobility for young people through his foundation.

He also won plaudits for appearing in a documentary about bereavement, speaking candidly about coping with the loss of wife Rebecca to breast cancer in 2015.

Adam Peaty made an OBE

Also being recognised during two investiture ceremonies being hosted by the Prince of Wales is 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 dominant display in the final of the men’s 100 metres breaststroke at Tokyo 2020.

Ex-leader of the DUP party made Dame

Arlene Foster, the former Stormont first minister and ex-leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, has been made a dame commander for public and political service.

The former politician, who was the first woman to be appointed first minister in Northern Ireland, represented the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone as a Stormont Assembly member for 18 years before leaving electoral politics last year.

Adam Hills given MBE

Adam Hills, the Australian TV presenter and comic, is given an MBE for services to Paralympic sport and disability awareness.

He has hosted Channel 4’s The Last Leg with Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker since it started in 2012.

Other people receiving honours today include Sir Trevor Phillips, scientist Ruth March, Paralympians Aled Davies, Gavin Walker and Jim Roberts, England football assistant manager Stephen Holland, fantasy author Sir Ian Livingstone, swimmer Anna Hopkin, cyclist Jody Cundy, wheelchair athlete Hannah Cockroft, triathletes Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown, Paralympic rower Giedre Rakauskaite and boxer Galal Yafai.

Hear the latest news on Cool FM on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app. You can also follow us on X and TikTok, just search CoolFMNews