Celebrity baker Paul Hollywood has been awarded an MBE at Windsor Castle for his services to baking and broadcasting on Wednesday.

TV star Paul, 57, has been a judge on the hit TV show since it started in 2010, co-hosting firstly with Dame Mary Berry and then Dame Prue Leith.

Paul, who was presented with his honour by the Princess Royal, said he would love for the Prince and Princess of Wales to appear on the show.

Speaking after the ceremony, Paul said being made an MBE had left him feeling 'very proud', but he wished his nan had been alive to witness it.

He explained: 'I was over the moon. When I (first found out) I told my mum and she was silent on the phone, which is quite unusual for my mum.

Celebrity baker Paul Hollywood has been awarded an MBE at Windsor Castle for his services to baking and broadcasting on Wednesday

'I wish my nan had seen it. She was very fond of the royal family, as we all are.

'But specifically she would've been over the moon. But my mum was here today so she was loving it.'

When asked which royal he would pick to compete in the Bake Off tent, Paul said: 'I think I'd go for Kate and Will - they'd be more than welcome!' 

He later spoke of Princess Anne, who presided over the ceremony, and said that he had previously met her before at Buckinham Palace.

He said: 'I've always been fond of the Princess Royal.

'I met her a few years ago at Buckingham Palace when the (then) Duke of Edinburgh wasn't very well. We were all with members of the royal family and I just happened to be there with Princess Anne. So to see her again today was fantastic.

'She did say "baking is so integral to the DNA of us all. We love the smell". And I said "absolutely, I grew up with the smell".

'I think she's particularly fond of Chelsea buns. I promised her some, so I put myself on the spot there.'

When asked if the royal family were fans of the show, Hollywood confessed they were 'fully aware of (it), yes.'

Bake Off made Paul a household name and he moved with the show when it switched from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2016.

When asked about both his future and the future of the programme, he said: 'I'm not going anywhere yet. Season 15 is starting soon. We'll work on that, the American version and the Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off.

'So for the rest of the year it's going to be full on Bake Off, which I love.

'It's taken off as a global brand. We get these huge A-lister celebrities contacting me and coming onto the set.

'We're just gobsmacked. This little baking programme in a tent has created this huge stir.

'So I think it's more of the same. It's not broken, so pointless trying to fix it.

'The bakers every year get better and better. The standard is amazing and we all love being in our second home, which is the Bake Off tent.'

Paul also confirmed that he was working on a new book which will be about 'celebrating Christmas, Easter and festivals throughout the year'.

He added: 'It's very much a celebratory side of baking. It's more fun and more relaxed.'