GLASTONBURY Festival founder Michael Eavis is to be knighted by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle for services to music and charity.

Former England cricketers Stuart Broad and Lydia Greenway will also be recognised by Anne during Tuesday’s investiture ceremony.

Dairy farmer Mr Eavis, 88, hosted the first festival on Worthy Farm, Somerset, in 1970 and the event is still held there today.

It is the largest greenfield festival in the world, drawing around 200,000 people each year, the biggest musical talent and a raft of celebrity guests.

Read more: Glastonbury Festival founder receives knighthood in New Year Honours

In an interview with the official Glastonbury website, Sir Michael said his daughter Emily, with whom he runs the festival, had brought him the official letter about his knighthood, adding: “I was really surprised to see it, actually. Why did they choose me, I wonder?

“What can I say, really? I’ve done quite a lot of stuff in my life and I’ve always been fairly sure that I was doing the right thing.”

Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid all receive donations from the festival and the event aims to raise around £2 million per year, which also helps hundreds of local causes.

In 2023, the festival donated more than £3.7 million to a range of charitable causes and campaigns including homelessness organisation Centrepoint, food redistributors Fareshare, several refugee charities and mental health charity Mind.

Additional reporting by Rosie Shead, PA.