A few weeks ago, I travelled from New York to London for an appointment unlike any other.
I had the incredible honour of being invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire, an MBE, at Windsor Castle. The honour was awarded in the King’s New Year Honours List for services to international trade, mentoring, and supporting people with dyslexia.
I have walked into plenty of important rooms in my life. Boardrooms. Barbershops. Business meetings. Trade events. Rooms where I had to prove myself.
But walking through the gates of Windsor Castle felt different.
Not because of the medal alone, but because of everything and everyone that had led to that moment.
This Was Never Just About Me
As I walked through the grounds of Windsor Castle, I found myself thinking about people.
My family. My wife. My mum. The people who believed in me when the road was far from easy. The mentors who gave me time. The team that helped build Pall Mall Barbers. The independent barbers who have brought their own standards, craft, and pride into our stores over the years.
And of course, our clients.
The men who have sat in our barber chairs before job interviews, weddings, first dates, promotions, business launches, big presentations, and ordinary Mondays that still mattered.
That is what made the day so powerful for me.
It was not just a royal ceremony. It was a reminder of the trust people place in a barbershop.
Before the Castle, I Did What We Tell Every Client to Do
Before leaving for Windsor Castle, I took time to get ready properly.
I groomed. I dressed well. I made sure I looked sharp and felt prepared.
That might sound simple, but it meant something to me.
At Pall Mall Barbers, we have always believed preparation matters. Grooming is not vanity. It is confidence. It is composure. It is respect for the moment you are about to walk into.
On one of the biggest days of my life, I did exactly what we have encouraged clients to do for years.
Prepare properly. Walk-in ready.
Some habits never change.
The Moment It Really Hit Me
As I walked across the grounds, I heard the sound of bagpipes.
At first, it was quiet in the distance. Then it grew louder with every step.
That was the moment it really landed.
This was happening.
I was not thinking about business plans, expansion, meetings, or next steps. I was standing inside a piece of British history, about to receive one of the greatest honours of my life.
Sharing that moment with my wife and my mum made it even more special.
One of my favourite memories from the day was pushing my mum’s wheelchair through Windsor Castle. There was a slope that felt less like a slope and more like a mountain. After everything she has done for me throughout my life, it felt right to be there with her.
A proud son. A grateful husband. A barber who never forgot where he started.
From a Barbershop to the Waterloo Chamber
Standing in the Waterloo Chamber, surrounded by centuries of history, I could not help but think back to the beginning.
Not in a castle.
Not in a boardroom.
In a barbershop.
Pall Mall Barbers has always been about more than haircuts. Its story is rooted in British barbering heritage, with the original Pall Mall grooming location dating back to 1896. Today, the brand continues to carry that modern heritage forward through barber services, products, tools, education, and the daily grooming standard: Keep Sharp, Every Day.
That line matters because grooming is not just something you do before a special occasion.
It is a standard you build into everyday life.
Why the Barber Chair Still Matters
A barbershop is one of the few places where men still talk openly.
They talk about work. Pressure. Family. Confidence. Health. Money. Ambition. Setbacks. New ideas. Fresh starts.
Over the years, I have seen the barber chair become more than a place for a haircut. It becomes a place of trust.
That trust is the real foundation of Pall Mall Barbers.
Our clients do not simply come in for a men’s haircut, beard trim, shave, or grooming service. They come in because they want to feel prepared for life outside the shop.
A meeting.
A flight.
A date.
A wedding.
A presentation.
A new chapter.
That is why this MBE means so much to me. It recognises the wider work behind the brand: international trade, mentoring, and support for people with dyslexia. It also reminds me that barbering can open doors far beyond the chair.
Dyslexia, Mentoring, and Opening Doors for Others
Being recognised for supporting people with dyslexia is deeply personal to me.
For many people, dyslexia is spoken about as a limitation. I have never seen it that way. It can be difficult, frustrating, and misunderstood, but it can also shape how you think, solve problems, communicate, and build resilience.
I know what it feels like to be underestimated.
That is why mentoring has always mattered to me.
When you have had to find your own way, you understand the importance of helping someone else find theirs. Whether that is a young person with dyslexia, a business owner trying to grow, or someone in barbering who needs encouragement, I believe success means more when you help others move forward too.
The MBE does not change that mission.
It strengthens it.
This Honour Belongs to More Than One Person
This honour has never felt like it belongs to me alone. It belongs to every person who helped build the journey.
Every independent barber, past and present. Every team member, past and present.
Every mentor, friend, client, and supporter who believed in the brand.
Every person who chose to sit in our barber chairs and trust us before an important moment.
You have all helped write this story.
From London to New York, from everyday appointments to unforgettable occasions, Pall Mall Barbers has grown because people trusted us to be part of their lives. That trust is something I will never take lightly.
What This Means for Pall Mall Barbers
Receiving an MBE from His Majesty The King is an incredible honour.
But it does not mean we slow down.
If anything, it reminds me that the standards must keep rising.
Pall Mall Barbers will continue to stand for modern British grooming, professional standards, education, mentoring, and confidence. We will continue building a brand that helps men look sharp, feel prepared, and understand how to maintain their grooming every day.
From the barber chair to the bathroom.
From London to New York.
From one appointment to a daily standard.
That is the future.
Thank You
To everyone who has supported me, my family, and Pall Mall Barbers, thank you.
Thank you for your trust.
Thank you for your loyalty.
Thank you for every conversation, every booking, every recommendation, every review, and every moment you allowed us to be part of.
Whether we helped you prepare for a wedding, a job interview, a flight, a business meeting, or just another busy Monday morning, we are grateful.
This MBE is a milestone, but it is also a reminder.
Prepare properly.
Hold your standards.
Help others when you can.
And keep sharp, every day.
FAQs
1. What MBE honour did Richard Marshall receive?
Richard Marshall received an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026. The honour recognises his services to international trade, mentoring, and supporting people with dyslexia.
2. Why is Richard Marshall’s MBE important?
Richard Marshall’s MBE is important because it recognises more than business growth. It highlights the wider impact of his work: building international opportunities, mentoring others, and using his own experience with dyslexia to support people who think and learn differently.
3. Where was Richard Marshall invested as an MBE?
Richard Marshall was invested as an MBE at Windsor Castle, where he received the honour from His Majesty The King. The ceremony marked a major personal milestone in his journey from barbering and entrepreneurship to national recognition.
4. What does MBE stand for?
MBE stands for Member of the Order of the British Empire. It is awarded to people who have made a meaningful contribution through service, achievement, or positive impact in their field or community.
5. What does Richard Marshall’s MBE represent?
Richard Marshall’s MBE represents resilience, service, and long-term contribution. For him, the honour is not only about receiving recognition from The King; it reflects years of work in British business, mentoring, dyslexia support, and helping others build confidence and opportunity.
Stay Connected with Richard Marshall| CEO and Founder of Pall Mall Barbers
Richard Marshall’s journey shows that consistency, craft, and service can take you from the back of a barbershop to Windsor Castle.
If you have ever searched “barbers near me” and walked into a Pall Mall Barbers shop, you are part of this story.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Keep sharp. Keep groomed.
Related Resources
To help you learn more about this topic, we’ve included trusted resources and industry references. These articles provide additional insights, official announcements, and expert commentary related to this subject.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-year-honours-2026-department-for-business-and-trade/new-year-honours-2026-department-for-business-and-trade
https://hji.co.uk/richard-marshall-pall-mall-barbers-mbe
https://www.barberevo.com/pall-mall-barbers-founder-richard-marshall-awarded-mbe
https://creativeheadmag.com/inform-header/expelled-at-15-to-government-advisor/
https://www.esteticamagazine.com/2026/01/02/richard-marshall-industry-mentor-awarded-mbe-in-kings-new-year-honours-list/
