Ed Sheeran says he will struggle to sell his next album

Ed Sheeran has three number one albums to his name – but he’s not expecting the same success with the next one.

The multi-award winning artist has predicted the follow-up to ÷ (Divide) will be his “lowest selling” yet as he is planning to take inspiration from Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska.

Speaking to The Times he said: “My plan is a lo-fi album that will be my lowest-selling, but most loved.

“I only heard Springsteen recently. I was with Kit [Harington] from Game of Thrones.

“We had a night out in New York, got back to his hotel to drink more, and he played Atlantic City. Then, when I heard Nebraska...”

Sheeran is currently on a world tour in support of ÷, which he’ll wrap up in November 2018.

The British star took break last week to receive his MBE at Buckingham Palace.

On picking up the honour he told PA: “My grandfather was a massive royalist. He had all the commemorative plates and stiff, 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.”

But he nearly found himself in hot water after breaching royal protocol by touching Prince Charles’ arm while shaking the future King’s hand during the Investiture ceremony on Thursday.

Speaking about his “faux pas” he told NBC’S Today: “Apparently, I did a big faux pas, though.

“I shook his hand and then grabbed it and you’re not meant to do that.”