Amy Dowden has been honoured with an MBE for her work as an advocate and ambassador for Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

The Strictly professional dancer, 34, was formally made a Member of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for her services to fundraising and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel disease.

The star revealed in 2019 that she was living with Crohn’s disease after suffering from bouts of illness since the age of 11.

The lifelong condition causes parts of the digestive system to become inflamed. For Amy this caused here to suffer with swollen eyes, mouth ulcers, constipation, pain, sickness and fatigue.

She went on to front a BBC programme titled Strictly Amy: Crohn’s And Me, in which she spoke about her struggles with the condition.

Three years later, she was admitted to hospital in Manchester following a Crohn’s flare-up while on the Strictly live tour.

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Amy Dowden wowed in silk purple dress as she received an MBE for raising awareness for Crohn’s and Colitis UK at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday

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The Strictly professional dancer, 34, was formally made a Member of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for her services to fundraising and raising awareness of inflammatory bowel disease

Just last month Amy revealed she can suffer ‘four to five black outs’ a day from pain caused by Crohn’s disease.

As she discussed her battle with the chronic condition on Aimee Fuller’s Monday Mile podcast she described the level of pain that she endures.

Amy explained: ‘If you think, a woman is designed for childbirth, you don’t pass out during childbirth.

‘I can have four to five black outs, because the pain is that much that my body can’t control it.

‘I get swollen eyes, inflammation to my joints, my skin, but I’m very, very lucky that I work with the most incredible team and a lot of my severe symptoms are now under control and in remission.’

She added: ‘I’m so blessed to have such an incredible team, but unfortunately, Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness that I will live with for the rest of my life.’

She now takes eight steroids a day to stay out of hospital.

Amy had returned to Strictly last year following her battle with breast cancer, but was forced to pull out of the show following a stress fracture.

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The star beamed as she shook hands with the King

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The star revealed in 2019 that she was living with Crohn’s disease after suffering from bouts of illness since the age of 11 and has been incredible open about life with the condition

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She went on to front a BBC programme titled Strictly Amy: Crohn’s And Me, in which she spoke about her struggles with the condition

Meanwhile composer John Rutter was also honoured by the King at Buckingham Palace for his services to music.

Sir John, who is also a conductor, editor and arranger, is best known for his choral compositions, including Christmas carols, anthems and extended works such as the Gloria, the Requiem and the Magnificat.

He has previously had compositions commissioned for major royal events including Queen Elizabeth II’s golden jubilee and for the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

More recently, the first two choral items sung at the late Queen’s platinum jubilee national service of thanksgiving in June 2022 and six pieces performed at the coronation of King Charles were arrangements by Sir John.

Sir John was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to music in the 2007 New Year Honours, and in 2023 he became a Fellow of The Ivors Academy.

Among other recipients honoured were Jasvinder Sanghera, who was made a Dame Commander for services to the victims of child, forced marriage and honour-based abuse.

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Meanwhile composer John Rutter was also honoured by the King at Buckingham Palace for his services to music

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Jasvinder Sanghera was made a Dame Commander for services to the victims of child, forced marriage and honour-based abuse

Dame Jasvinder, from Derby, was just 14 years old when she was faced with the prospect of a forced marriage, but defied her parents’ wishes by refusing and leaving home.

Ostracised by her family, she later founded the charity Karma Nirvana in 1993, described as the first specialist charity for victims and survivors of honour-based abuse in the UK.

In November last year, she was appointed by Harrods as an advocate for survivors of alleged abuse by its late former owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

Dame Jasvinder said she was “honoured to be a part of this project” because she believed the department store wished to “get this right”.