Paula Radcliffe Receives OBE From Prince William at Windsor
Paula Radcliffe, the former marathon runner, received an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Prince William at Windsor Castle on 10 November 2026. An OBE is an honour granted in the King's name, and it is handed over at a ceremony called an investiture.
Investitures follow a set pattern. Each recipient walks up, and the honour is pinned on or placed in their hands while a short citation, the official reason for the award, is read out. Radcliffe's ceremony was held at the castle in Berkshire, where William presented the award to her.
Speaking afterwards, Radcliffe said she had talked with William about running and the London Marathon. She said the fastest-growing age group for the race is now 18 to 29-year-olds. That detail gives a sense of who is lacing up for the capital's biggest road race these days.
Radcliffe also turned to the Princess of Wales. She said that the princess going out with her children, and in particular Princess Charlotte exercising, sets an example that will encourage many people to take up sport. Hello! magazine carried her remarks.
Charlotte is 11, the daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales. William and Catherine have said she enjoys ballet, gymnastics, swimming and tennis. Those are the activities the couple have publicly described.
The link between the two threads is simple. An honour for services to sport meets a family that talks openly about being active, and Radcliffe drew that line herself. She did not suggest any specific plan or programme linked to the royal family.
Radcliffe is best known for her long-distance running career, and the OBE recognises her work in the sport. Her remarks at Windsor kept the focus on participation, the number of people who run and the children who might follow the example set by a young princess.
For readers, the practical point is this. Honours like the OBE are announced in advance in a published list, and recipients are then invited to a ceremony. Anyone who wants to read the full citation can find it on the official honours records.
