Tess Daly, esteemed presenter of Strictly Come Dancing, has described her appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) as the “greatest honour” of her career, dedicating the accolade to her late father.
The co-host of the popular BBC show received the honor for her services to broadcasting during an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, as part of the King’s Birthday Honours.
Daly expressed her intention to dedicate the honor to her father, stating, “He’d be so proud of his daughter meeting the King, in a castle.”
Last month, Daly and her Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman, who also received an MBE, announced their departure from the BBC One program following its Christmas special. The duo has co-presented the show since 2014.
Speaking to reporters after the investiture, Daly remarked, “This is probably the greatest honour of my career, and it still feels quite surreal, to be honest with you.”
“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.”
She attended the ceremony accompanied by her husband, Vernon Kay, and their two children.
Daly added, “His Majesty put me at ease – I was quite nervous.”
“We talked about the show, and I know the Queen enjoys it.”
“She sent me a letter of congratulations when I received the MBE, which meant the world.”
Daly and Winkleman shared their decision to leave Strictly in an Instagram post last month.
The BBC confirmed that the duo’s final appearance would be during this year’s Christmas special on December 25.
Reflecting on her forthcoming departure, Daly stated there’s “no show like it.”
“I will miss it, but I’m quite looking forward to a lie-in on Saturday morning – and new ventures in the new year.”
When asked about her replacement, she responded, “I have no idea; it’s not up to me.”
“I’ll be watching at home with Claudia – we’ll be watching the launch together!”
Daly’s television career began in 1999 when she hosted The Big Breakfast’s Find Me A Model competition on Channel 4.
She has presented Strictly since its inaugural series 21 years ago, initially alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth. Winkleman joined in 2014, having hosted the sister show, It Takes Two, since 2004.
Winkleman and Daly were recognized as the first female presenting duo on prime-time Saturday night television.
The pair received the entertainment program award at the Bafta TV Awards in 2024.
Daly also presented the annual charity appeal show, BBC Children In Need, co-hosting it several times with the late Sir Terry Wogan.
Also in attendance at the investiture was former EastEnders star Anita Dobson, renowned for her role as Angie Watts, the Queen Vic landlady, who was appointed an OBE for her services to charitable fundraising and philanthropy.
Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly received his knighthood, awarded in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list. Det Supt Katherine Goodwin, the Met Police chief who spearheaded the manhunt for the murderer of Sarah Everard in 2021, was awarded the King’s Police Medal.
Her investigation led to the conviction of Met police officer Wayne Couzens.
King Charles was joined by about 20 World War Two veterans at the annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
King Charles III laid a wreath at the Cenotaph during the service attended by 20 World War Two veterans.
King Charles III laid a wreath at the monument in central London as the nation remembered its war dead.
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The royals attended the annual event at the Royal Albert Hall on the eve of Remembrance Sunday.