Ed Sheeran Awarded MBE at Buckingham Palace, Chats With Prince Charles

Ed Sheeran poses with his MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) medal that was presented to him  by the Prince of Wales during an Investiture ceremony on Dec. 7, 2017 at Buckingham Palace, London.

The 26-year-old "Shape of You" star visited Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE, making him a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. 

Prince Charles did the honors in place of Queen Elizabeth. Sheeran was not named a knight or Sir, so instead of the formalities associated with such a distinction, Sheeran chatted casually with Prince Charles. 

"He was asking me if I was still selling lots of records, and I told him I've got a concert in New York tomorrow," Sheeran told the BBC, according to MTV. "He was quite surprised I was flying after this." 

Sheeran added that, on a more personal note, his late grandfather, Bill (who passed in 2013) was a "massive royalist."

"He had all the commemorative plates and stuff," Sheeran said, "and he died on this day four years ago, so it's actually quite a nice full circle thing. I guess he'd be pretty proud." 

Sheeran's "New York concert"  (Dec. 8) is the Z100 Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden.