King Charles awards MBE to Strictly’s Amy Dowden at Buckingham Palace
King Charles has awarded Strictly Come Dancing’s Amy Dowden an MBE at Buckingham Palace for her work championing awareness of inflammatory bowel disease.
The 34-year-old dancer received the honour on Tuesday in recognition of her services to fundraising and raising awareness as an ambassador for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.
Dowden, who first revealed her own battle with Crohn’s disease in 2019, has been a prominent advocate for those living with the condition.
The star has been open about her experiences with the lifelong condition, which causes inflammation in the digestive system and can lead to severe symptoms including pain, fatigue and ulcers.
Dowden has battled with Crohn’s disease since the age of 11, experiencing a range of debilitating symptoms.
The condition has caused her to suffer from swollen eyes, mouth ulcers, constipation, pain, sickness and fatigue.
Her journey with Crohn’s led her to front a BBC documentary, “Strictly Amy: Crohn’s And Me,” where she shared her personal struggles.
In a significant health setback, she was admitted to hospital in Manchester during the Strictly Live tour following a Crohn’s flare-up.
Despite these challenges, Dowden remains positive about her treatment, noting that many of her severe symptoms are now under control and in remission thanks to her medical team.
The dancer currently takes eight steroids daily to manage her health condition and stay out of hospital.
Dowden had made a return to Strictly Come Dancing following a separate battle with breast cancer, but was unable to continue due to a stress fracture.
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Her determination to raise awareness about Crohn’s disease has been recognised alongside other distinguished recipients at the Palace ceremony.
Among those also honoured was composer John Rutter, who received recognition for his services to music.
Rutter, known for his choral compositions including Christmas carols and anthems, has previously arranged music for significant royal events including the late Queen’s platinum jubilee and King Charles’s Coronation.