By MICHAEL PAVITT

British Olympic star Keely Hodgkinson has received her MBE from Prince William at Windsor Castle. 

Hodgkinson was given the honour after winning gold in the women’s 800m at the Paris Olympics last year.

She became the first British track and field star to win Olympic gold since Sir Mo Farah back in 2016. 

The 23-year-old was named on the New Year’s Honours list following her astonishing year, which had also seen her defend her European title.

Hodgkinson was pictured in conversation and laughing with Prince William as she received her gong at Windsor Castle.

The honour was the latest award received by Hodgkinson, who was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year back in December.

Formula One driver turned broadcaster Martin Brundle was also honoured on Tuesday.

Brundle, who has become known to a new wave of F1 fans through his grid interviews, received his OBE.

Speaking to Mail Sport in March, the Sky Sports broadcaster admitted his relief the honour was for services to motor racing and sports broadcasting and not just sports broadcasting. 

Brundle had raced in the sport from 1984 to 1996 and achieved nine podium finishes, become becoming a fixture of F1 coverage for ITV, the BBC and with Sky Sports since 2012.

‘The grid walk actually really annoys me because that’s what I’m known for now,’ Brundle admitted in March.

‘The whole thing is still a mystery. I won a lot of races as a driver and was on the F1 podium. 

‘I was World Sportscar Champion, winner at Le Mans, beat Ayrton Senna a lot of times in F3 – I was a reasonably handy racing driver and I’m a reasonably handy commentator but all I’m going to be remembered for is getting ignored on the grid by the Megan Thee Stallion and other people I’d never heard of until that moment.

‘It’s quite a funny thing but I can’t knock it – heading towards 66, I’m lucky to still be in live sport and that’s why I was pleased with the OBE because it wasn’t an OBE just for gridwalking.’

Keely HodgkinsonPrince William

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Prince William charms Olympic hero Keely Hodgkinson as she receives her MBE at Windsor Castle, while F1 grid interviewer Martin Brundle gets OBE

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