Jony Ive, the man responsible for leading Apple’s design team for the last 16 years, has been knighted in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Princess Anne performed the ceremony, reportedly talking with Ive about her iPad in a brief chat afterwards.

Responsible for products like the iMac, MacBook Air, iPod, iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad, Sir Jonathan was regarded by the late Apple CEO Steve Jobs as a ‘spiritual partner’.

The 45-year-old was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for services to design and enterprise.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph prior to the ceremony, Ive said he considered the knighthood ‘incredibly humbling’.

"All I’ve ever wanted to do is design and make,” Ive says.

"It’s what I love doing. It’s great if you can find what you love to do.”

Image: Rebecca Naden, Getty Images.