Ed Sheeran Returns to the Stage After Long Hiatus, Jokes About Sword Injury

Ed Sheeran may have been on a long hiatus, but he didn’t want to let 2016 go by without a performance.

The singer has been traveling the globe during his off time but stopped by the East Anglian Children’s Hospices gala to make his first official performance of the year.

Sheeran spoke to the crowd of 350 lucky guests at the annual bash, which took place at the Natural History Museum in London, about his break as well as his recent headline-grabbing injury.

“It’s nice to be back. I’ve had a whole year off. I went to Japan for about a month,” he began by telling the audience at the charity fête.

“Hung out with Japanese people…got my face cut open, anyone read about that?”

The joke poked fun at Sheeran’s recent injury which reports claim was the outcome of a party prank with none other than his pal, Princess Beatrice.

Sheeran added before beginning his 40-minute acoustic set, “This is the first time I’ve done a show in a year, so please bear with me.”

He then sang several of his most famous hits including, “Thinking Out Loud” and “I See Fire.”

Graham Butland, EACH’s chief executive, said that the night’s auction and event “helped to raise the profile of the vital care we provide to life-threatened children and young people.”

The total proceeds from the evening will be used towards a proposed new hospice site which is said to offer services such as a hydrotherapy pool, music studio and extensive outdoor space.