Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has received one of Britain's highest honours by being awarded an MBE for his contribution to music and charity.

The 26-year-old singer played two sell-out nights in March this year at the 3Arena and there is an unconfirmed rumour that he will play in Croke Park next year.

Ed Sheeran is rumoured to perhaps play in Croke Park next year

From sleeping on Jamie Foxx's sofa as a budding musician to performing to tens of thousands of fans worldwide, he has come a long way since he released his debut album in 2011.

The MBE announcement comes a week before one of the tattooed musician's biggest gigs to date, closing Glastonbury festival, and just over three months after he released smash hit third album, ÷ (Divide).

In December he returned from a year-long break before releasing single Shape of You in March which has thus far spent 11 non-consecutive weeks at the summit of the charts.

Born in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire on February 17 1991, to an art curator father and jewellery designer mother, Sheeran grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk. His grandparents are from Gorey in Wexford where he spent many summer holidays.

He has two songs in his latest album that are Irish influenced.

Always happy to reveal an anecdote, he hit the headlines towards the end of last year after it was claimed Princess Beatrice, 28, swung a sword over her shoulder while she was pretending to "knight" James Blunt at a party but accidentally struck the Shape Of You singer.