Ed Sheeran joins Beyoncé on stage to perform acoustic version of Drunk In Love

The two performed at the Global Citizen festival in New York City

Ed Sheeran and Beyonce perform onstage during 2015 Global Citizen Festival (Getty Images)

Beyoncé brought surprise guest Ed Sheeran out on stage to join her in an acoustic version of Drunk In Love.

The two were performing at the Global Citizen Festival, in Central Park, New York City.

Introducing Sheeran on stage, the 34-year-old singer said: “I want to bring out someone I respect so much.”

Although on the surface it may seem like an unlikely duet, this is not the first time the pair have shared the stage.

The two were joined by Gary Clark Jr. in February to perform at a Grammy tribute concert for Stevie Wonder, singing a rendition of Master Blaster.

The performances seem to have led to a friendship, with the British singer telling American chat show host Jimmy Fallon in June, how he ate pizza with Beyoncé and her husband Jay Z in a bar, crediting the couple as “the coolest people”.

Following Beyoncé’s performance, First Lady Michelle Obama took to the stage to introduce a new campaign, 62 Million Girls, which aims to get more girls around the world in education.

Global Citizen festival was established in 2012, the festival supports the UN’s Millennium Development goals of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.