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The mission is personal for the soccer star, who was the recipient of free school meals growing up and has spoken about facing food insecurity through childhood.
“Congratulations @MarcusRashford. Keep continuing the vital work you are doing for vulnerable children across the UK,” the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrote from their officialTwitteraccount, sharing a photo ofPrince William, 40, awarding Rashford the medal, alongside an image of the professional athlete with his mother Melanie Maynard, who attended the ceremony as his guest, in the palace gardens.
Writing back, Rashford said “An honour to spend the morning with you @KensingtonRoyal. Thank you for making the day so special for me and mum very proud.”
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The soccer player dedicated his award to his mother and pledged to keep working for an end to child hunger, theBBC reported.Maynard raised her son and his three siblings as a single mother on minimum wage, and has been recognized in her own right for her work in the fight to end food poverty, the outlet said.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Rashford told the press after the ceremony, per ESPN. “We’re nowhere near where we want to be, or where we feel the kids deserve to be. We’ve just got to stick at it and keep going.”
The day was just as special for the Duke of Cambridge, who wrote in a personal message on Twitter that he was glad to be conducting investitures in person again after pausing the ceremonies due to COVID-19 concerns amid the pandemic.
“Pleased to be back doing investitures in person, celebrating people across the UK who have gone above and beyond for their country and community,” the royal wrote, signing off “W.”
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William and Rashford connected over the summer, when the royal denounced theracist online vitriollodged at the athlete and his fellow Team England players Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho, after they missed penalty kicks that helped secure Italy’s win in the Euro 2020 final.
Prince Charlesalso spoke in support of Rashford and the team soon after the incident, sharing an excerpt from his speech onWindrush Day2020 in the U.K., when he noted how “the rich diversity of cultures which make this country so special — and in many ways unique — lies at the heart of what we can be as a nation.” Many saw the quote as a response to the racist abuse that the three Team England players received online.
Later, in conversation with the U.K.‘sRadio 4about sustainable farming,he named Rashfordamong a select few celebrities whose work aligns with his own passion, lauding the soccer star “whose mission off the football field is to tackle child hunger.”
source: people.com
