The British artist’s smash hit album ‘÷’ celebrated its seventh anniversary on March 3

Ed Sheeran and Rihanna at the Grammys in Los Angeles in February 2017. PHOTO:  LESTER COHEN/GETTY

Ed Sheeran is looking back on one of his most beloved albums as it celebrates an anniversary.

The singer-songwriters’ third studio album ÷ (pronounced Divide) turned seven on Sunday and to commemorate the milestone, he shared a handful of photos from the record’s creation and around the time of its release on Instagram. Among the throwbacks, he even gave Rihanna a thoughtful shout-out, as she helped to inspire the smash hit single “Shape of You.”

Sheeran’s carousel of shots began with a fun photo of him and the superstar, 36, at the 2017 Grammys. The two appeared to be all smiles, with the “Work” singer grinning especially wide.

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“At the Grammys telling Rihanna ‘Shape of You’ was originally with her in mind,” he wrote in the caption, which included descriptions of each image he posted.

Upon the release of the song, which is an ode to Sheeran’s wife Cherry Seaborn, he revealed that it was originally written for the Barbados artist.

In a 2017 BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show interview, he said the track came together somewhat randomly because he was working with co-writers. “We were writing this song and I was like, ‘This would really work for Rihanna,’” he shared at the time. “And then I started singing lyrics like, ‘Putting Van the Man on the jukebox,’ and I was like, ‘Well, she’s not really going to sing that, is she?’ And then we sort of decided halfway through that we were just going to make it for me.”

Ed Sheeran at the Grammys in Los Angeles in February 2024.FRANCIS SPECKER/CBS VIA GETTY

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The British star reflected a great deal on the success of “Shape of You” in his “anniversary throwback dumpington.”

He also included a shot of him and dancer Jennie Pegouskie, whom he starred alongside in the music video for the track, and one with some of the song’s co-writers, Johnny McDaid of Snow Patrol and Steve Mac. In the latter, the three posed together while Sheeran held up a bottle of champagne to honor the fan-favorite going No. 1 on the charts.

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“Celebrating with @rokstoneprod and @jmd_snowpatrol Shape of You going #1 worldwide with a bottle of champs we didn’t end up drinking, it’s still in my cellar, being saved for a special occasion,” he wrote.

Ed Sheeran performing at 2022 BRIT Awards in London, England. KARWAI TANG/WIREIMAGE

The anniversary post also included photos with Damien Hirst, the artist who painted the Divide cover art, U.K. rapper Stormzy and actress Zoey Deutch, who starred in the “Perfect” music video, among other shots.

The Grammy winner opened up about some of his favorite memories from the Divide tour, as well. “My birthday in Brazil on the Divide tour, I asked to play a football game with some ex Brazilian national players. We got spanked,” he wrote.

Coinciding with the final image of the selection, a candid of Sheeran relaxing in bed with a pizza, he shared: “Final night of the Divide tour, and campaign, in Ipswich, having a pizza and celebrating the most successful era of my career.”

A select number of lucky fans will be able to join in on the anniversary celebrations in a special way.