Mel B was joined by her proud mother Andrea Brown as she was made an MBE on Wednesday
(Picture: Getty Images)Mel B was made an MBE by Prince William at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday and dedicated the honour to “all the other women” dealing with domestic violence.
The musician and TV personality, 46, was joined by her proud mother Andrea Brown as she received the honour in the first major investiture to be staged at the Queen’s London residence since the start of the pandemic, more than two years ago.
Mel B - real name Melanie Brown - originally rose to prominence as Scary Spice in pop group the Spice Girls during the 1990s with chart-topping hits such as Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life, became a patron of the charity Women’s Aid in 2018.
She was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.
The star wore a red dress designed by Spice Girls bandmate Victoria Beckham for the grand occasion and gave a cursty to the Duke of Cambridge as she received her gong.
Speaking to the PA news agency after collecting her MBE, she said the experience was “absolutely lovely”.
“I never thought I would be here getting this MBE for the work I’ve been doing,” she told the outlet.
“It’s amazing to have but it’s not just for me – it’s for all those other women.
“Especially because of Covid, there’s been such an epidemic of domestic violence, that’s been completely on the rise, and you know I’ve got an army of women behind me that need help and need to be heard.
“So I’m their voice because we’ve all been through exactly the same story, so I don’t take it as it’s my award because it’s our award because we’ve survived.”
Asked about her conversation with Prince 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.”
The 2 Become 1 hit-maker also teased 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.”
Elsewhere at the ceremony, Watford Football Club manager Roy Hodgson was made a CBE.
The 74-year-old was England boss during a four-year stint from 2012 to 2016.
Hodgson was made a CBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to football.
Others receiving nods included radio presenter Simon Mayo, actress Ruth Wilson, and Paralympians Chris Ryan and Thomas Young.
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, was also honoured on Wednesday.
The actress was made an MBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to drama.
She was 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 received his honour as well.
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.”
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.
