Taylor Swift picks up first ever Brit Award

Taylor Swift has picked up her first ever BRIT Award.

The pop star took the stage at London's O2 Arena on Wednesday night (25Feb15) and thanked Ed Sheeran, presenter Ellie Goulding and Cara Delevingne among the British friends who had made her feel welcome there over the past eight years during her International Female Artist acceptance speech.

The Love Story singer said, "I've been coming to England and playing shows for eight years and this is my first BRIT Award. I'm so happy."

She then singled out Sheeran, the ceremony's British Male Solo Artist prize winner, and thanked him for taking her to British pubs, adding, "He taught me how to make a good cup of tea."

Swift, who also opened the show with a performance of her hit Blank Space, then name checked Goulding and Delevingne, insisting she was "lucky to have them in my life".

Speaking to WENN backstage, Swift said the honor has cemented her long-running love affair with England.

She giggled, "I'm way too excited about it, I need to calm down. I'm so excited, I'm so happy. It's been the most amazing slow build... my love affair with England and the U.K.

"Starting out playing Kings College (and) ending up eight years later getting ready to play sold out Hyde Park is like 'Wow!' So this first BRIT Award couldn't come at a better time, so I'm so happy. Honestly, it's amazing."