The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood was honoured with an MBE at Windsor Castle today (April 17).
The renowned baker, who has appeared on the hit baking show since it's inception in 2010, received a firm handshake from HRH Princess Anne, as she handed over Hollywood's MBE.
Hollywood was announced as an upcoming recipient of an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours list, recognised for his services to baking and broadcasting.
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Speaking after the ceremony, Hollywood recalled his sweet exchange with Princess Anne, who revealed her favourite baked treat.
"She did say, 'Baking is so integral to the DNA of us all. We love the smell'," said Hollywood. "And I said, 'Absolutely, I grew up with the smell'.
"I think she's particularly fond of Chelsea buns. I promised her some, so I put myself on the spot there."
Asked whether the royals were a fan of Bake Off, Hollywood added that they were "fully aware of [it], yes".
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Hollywood also shared his delight at receiving the honour from Princess Anne.
"I've always been fond of the Princess Royal," he said. "I met her a few years ago at Buckingham Palace when the [then] Duke of Edinburgh wasn't very well. We were all with members of the royal family, and I just happened to be there with Princess Anne.
"So to see her again today was fantastic."
Viewers recently saw Hollywood on screens in the 2024 Celebrity Bake Off series, which saw This Morning's Dermot O'Leary, Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox, comedian Leigh Francis and ex-Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews all win Star Baker aprons in their heats.
The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off and The Great British Bake Off air on Channel 4.
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Emily is an experienced freelance entertainment writer and editor, reporting on all things TV, film, soaps and showbiz. An NCTJ-qualified journalist, with a First Class Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Sussex, Emily is a former Deputy News Editor and Evening News Editor at Digital Spy. She has previously worked at Hello magazine, BBC South News and GoodtoKnow.
A small and big-screen obsessive – with subscriptions to every TV and film service under the sun – Emily knows her movie stars from soap stars, and is always clued up on the latest reality show dumping, just-dropped trailer or off-screen spat. She's interviewed a number of celebrities over the years, with highlights including The Masked Singer host Joel Dommett and GMB's Kate Garraway (who "loved" her trousers).
Emily counts Sharon Horgan and Julia Davis as her TV heroes, and is a loyal Wes Anderson fan. LinkedIn
