Rashford's touching dedication as Man Utd star receives MBE from Prince William

Marcus Rashford will give his MBE to his mother after he received the award from Prince William at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.

The Manchester United forward, 24, attended the investiture ceremony with mum Melanie after he was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List last year.

Rashford received his MBE after successfully lobbying for the government to continue its free school meals programme in holidays during the coronavirus pandemic.

The hugely-impressive young man serves on the Child Food Poverty Taskforce and continues to campaign against food waste and for racial and social equality.

Rashford grew up relying on free school meals and Melanie, a single mother, was forced to go hungry while working multiple jobs so he and his four siblings could eat.

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The England international, who reached the final of Euro 2020 this summer, vowed he will continue to strive so every child in the United Kingdom has the "opportunity" they deserve.

Rashford also dedicated his MBE to his mother as he spoke after the ceremony, saying: "It seems like there's a lot going on but for me to put it in the simplest way - I'm trying to give children the things I didn't have when I was kid.

"If I did have, I would have been much better off and had many more options in my life.

"I'm just giving them the opportunity and I think they deserve the opportunity - what child doesn't? For me it's a punishment for them not to be getting things like meals or supplies of books.

"And if we can all come together to make these small changes - they are small changes but they become big changes once you see the rewards of it - I see a generation that's coming after me as a very special generation.

"They just need a bit of guidance and pointing in the right direction and what I'm doing is giving them that."

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As well as earning an MBE, Rashford became the youngest individual to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester last month.

The United academy graduate's social campaigning will also be recognised with a unique award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in December.

Rashford also touched on his conversation with the Duke of Cambridge, adding: "We were just speaking about football, actually! We were just speaking about the Euros and a little about the response, what it was like after. How good it was to see everyone come together and support the team."