Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has been honored with an MBE by the King at Buckingham Palace. The 34-year-old, who lives with Crohn’s disease, received the accolade for her contributions to fundraising and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel disease. The Welsh professional dancer, who joined the show in 2017, disclosed her battle with Crohn’s in 2019 and shared her experiences in a BBC documentary. On Tuesday, Dowden expressed that the honor “hasn’t sunk in yet” and emphasized her commitment to continue her advocacy for Crohn’s and colitis awareness and fundraising.
Dowden described receiving the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) as “really surreal” and “like an out of body experience.” Last year, she was hospitalized due to a Crohn’s flare-up while filming the show. In 2023, shortly after returning from her honeymoon with husband Ben Jones, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She mentioned discussing her cancer recovery and the effects of chemotherapy on her body with the King.
Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of Crohn’s & Colitis UK, praised Dowden for helping to normalize discussions about these conditions through her openness and authenticity. Each year, 25,000 individuals in the UK are diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, and many feel less apprehensive about their future due to Dowden’s efforts.
In addition, composer John Rutter, 79, received a knighthood for his contributions to music. Sir John is renowned for his choral works, including Christmas carols and major compositions like the Gloria, the Magnificat, and the Requiem. He has been commissioned for significant royal events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee and King Charles’ coronation.
Another honoree on Tuesday was Jasvinder Sanghera, who was made a Dame Commander for her services to victims of child, forced marriage, and honor-based abuse. Dame Jasvinder faced the threat of a forced marriage at the age of 14 and later founded the Karma Nirvana charity in 1993.
