Mel B receives her MBE for services to domestic violence victims at Buckingham Palace

Mel B received royal honours on Wednesday in the first major investiture at Buckingham Palace since the start of the pandemic.

The Spice Girl, 46, who was accompanied by proud mum Andrea, was named in the New Year Honours for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.

On her special day at the Queen’s London residence, where she was appointed an MBE by Prince William, the singer looked stunning in a red dress, accompanying headpiece and white heels.

Mel could not keep the smile from her face as proudly as she received the reputable accolade from the Duke Of Cambridge, before presenting him her best curtesy. 

The Woman’s Aid patron dedicated her MBE to other people who suffered in abusive relationships. 

Speaking to The Sun about learning she had received the honour, she said: ‘I thought about all the women I’ve met over the past few years who have been through terrible situations, women who have died, women who are still suffering. 

Happy moment: The Spice Girl, 46, who was accompanied by proud mum Andrea, was named in the New Year Honours for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women

Moment to remember: Mel could not keep the smile from her face as proudly as she received the reputable accolade from Prince William 

Proud: Wednesday marked the first major investiture at Buckingham Palace since the start of the pandemic

Congratulations: On her special day at the Queen’s London residence, the singer looked stunning in a red dress, accompanying headpiece and white heels

An honour: Mel presented her best curtesy at Buckingham Palace before receiving the coveted award 

Brave: The Woman’s Aid patron dedicated her MBE to other people who suffered in abusive relationships

‘This, for me, was all about them. It still is.’

She continued: ‘Receiving that letter telling me about the MBE… it was the first time I thought that I’d done something.  

‘Not as a Spice Girl, but as Melanie Brown – this working-class, mixed-race kid from Leeds who has always done her own thing, regardless.

‘That made me feel incredibly proud of myself, of all women who’ve been through similar experiences and of all the people who have helped me along this path.’   

Raising awareness: Last year, the singer starred in a short film exploring domestic violence through dance, recreating a woman’s escape from an abusive relationship

Melanie split from her film producer ex-husband Stephen Belafonte in 2017 after a decade.

She claimed in her 2018 memoir Brutally Honest that she had suffered abuse – allegations Belafonte has repeatedly denied. 

Mel’s father Martin died from cancer following an eight-year illness in 2017.

Ex: Mel split from Stephen Belafonte, 46, in 2017 and claimed he emotionally and physically abused her during their 10-year marriage – something he vehemently denies (pictured in 2015)

The singer said that after telling her mother the news of her MBE, she had driven to his graveside to share the news with him.  

Pop star Mel said that, apart from the women who have suffered, she wanted to dedicate her award to her father.

She said he ‘started the journey I will be on for the rest of my life’, working as much as possible to raise awareness for domestic abuse.