In pictures: Charting 10 years since Ed Sheeran's first album

Since then the Castle on the Hill performer has three hit albums and sold more than 150 million records.

He has performed around the world and went on the highest grossing tour ever for his album '÷'.

Ed's never forgotten his roots and has made many trips in and around Suffolk over the years for secret gigs in pubs and not so secret gigs where he played to thousands at Chantry Park in Ipswich.

Here we chart the performer's career from a fresh-faced young Suffolk starling to a global megastar.

2011 - Ed signs his first contract in The Station Pub in Framlingham

Ed Sheeran signing a six record deal with Atlantic in Framlingham's The Station Pub (Image: Alex Fairfull)

2011 - Ed meets fans to sign copies of his first album in Ipswich

Ed meets fans at HMV in Ipswich (Image: Archant)

2011- Ed plays at Latitude Festival

A fresh-faced Ed at Latitude in 2011 (Image: Archant)

2012 - Ed wins an Ivor Novello for the A -Team

Ed's won a number of awards over the years, here he is with an Ivor Novello (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

2012 - Ed meets her Majesty the Queen

Ed Sheeran meets the Queen backstage at the Diamond Jubilee Concert (Image: Dave Thompson/PA Wire)

2013 - Ed performs with friend Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran at Capital FM's Summertime Ball (Image: PA Archive/Press Association Images)

2014 - Ed returns to Suffolk to perform a secret gig at the Steamboat Tavern

Secret Ed Sheeran Gig at The Steam Boat Tavern, Ipswich (Image: Archant)

2015 - Receives an honorary doctorate at what is now the University of Suffolk

Ed Sheeran's at his UCS graduation ceremony (Image: Archant)

2017- Performs as a headliner at Glastonbury

Ed Sheeran performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

2019 - Takes an acting role in the Suffolk-filmed hit 'Yesterday'

Ed Sheeran attending the Yesterday premiere (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

2019 - The Ed Sheeran: Made in Suffolk exhibition opens at Christchurch Mansion

Puppet's from Ed Sheeran's music videos were part of the exhibition (Image: Archant)

2019 - Ed returns to Suffolk to play a series of headline gigs in Ipswich's Chantry Park

Ed Sheeran's during his second night at Chantry Park in Ipswich (Image: Zakary Walters)

2021 - Receives a squad number from Ipswich Town after becoming their shirt sponsor

Ed Sheeran has been given a squad number by Ipswich Town for the 2021/22 season (Image: EdSheeran/Instagram)