Calls for Robbie Williams to get OBE and family's knighthood dream

Wife Ayda Field is calling for husband Robbie Williams to receive an OBE for his work on Soccer Aid. The actress, 45, was on the Loose Women panel this week as she reflected on Robbie's hard work at the charity event.

Soccer Aid took place on Sunday night as stars took to the pitch to raise money for UNICEF. A host of celebrities and former footballers descended on Stamford Bridge for the annual event.

Since kickstarting in 2006, the match has raised an impressive £90 million for the charity. Robbie, 50, was joined by Paddy McGuinness, Erin Doherty, Danny Dyer and Bobby Brazier taking part for the England team. Meanwhile, Roman Kemp, Usain Bolt, Tommy Fury, Martin Compston and Lee Mack featured on the World XI team.

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Robbie helped to come up with Soccer Aid after meeting football agent Kenneth Shepherd at a charity game. The Take That star started working with children's charity UNICEF in 1998 and two years later became an ambassador.

His former bandmate Gary Barlow was awarded an OBE in the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours for his "services to the Entertainment Industry and to Charity".

Ayda was asked by Loose Women co-star Denise Welch why Robbie hasn't been given one yet, to which she replied:

"Well Denise I don't know how to answer that on live TV. All I can say in the Williams household, there is an OBE. We gave it to the dog, we figured it was about time there was one in the house. He is called Mr Showbiz OBE."

She added: "I'm rooting for a knighthood, but listen Rob never set out for any accolades when he started this 20 years ago. That has actually helped people in a really powerful way."

Speaking of this year's event on Sunday, Ayda commented: "I was really impressed, I had a real proud wife moment when he came home."

Back in 2019 a decision to award former Take That star Robbie an OBE was overturned after it was deemed he had used a controversial investment scheme. The senior HMRC civil servant who informed the honours committee of its decision suggested the star only had himself to blame.

"If you do not pay your dues to the Athenaeum you cannot expect to enjoy the benefits," the official reportedly said.

In the same year, Robbie joked about his lack on an OBE while on the Jonathan Ross show with David Walliams. They discussed visiting Buckingham Palace as David said he'd been "many, many, many, many, times" and added: "But you only see bits of it." Robbie interjected: "I've seen all of it."

David asked: "Did you get an award or something?" Which prompted Robbie to reply: "Yeah no, no awards. Gary Barlow OBE, Robbie Williams, nothing."

Former Britain's Got Talent judge David then teased: "Why do you think that is, why do you think the Queen hates you?" Robbie quipped: "Obviously not flavour of the day. You organise a jubilee for her on the roundabout outside the house, OBE straight away. Robbie Williams, no."

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