Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis is set to be knighted at Windsor Castle today by the Princess Royal, recognising his significant contributions to music and various charitable efforts.

Eavis, who is 88, still runs the iconic festival on his Worthy Farm in Pilton, where it all began in 1970. Today, Glastonbury stands as the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, drawing approximately 200,000 attendees each year. It is renowned not only for its musical lineup but also for being a staple in both the cultural calendar and a celebrity hotspot.

In a recent interview, Sir Michael shared his surprise and humility over the honour: "I was really surprised to see it, actually. Why did they choose me, I wonder?" He continued, "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."

Glastonbury's mission extends beyond music; the festival is dedicated to supporting a variety of causes, raising about £2 million annually for charities like Greenpeace, Oxfam, and WaterAid, alongside local initiatives.

In 2023 alone, the festival contributed over £3.7 million to numerous charitable organizations, supporting efforts from combating homelessness with Centrepoint to assisting mental health charity Mind.