Queen gives MBE to singer Knight

Beverley Knight said the honour was better than any of her awards

Soul singer Beverley Knight has been awarded an MBE by the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The 33-year-old received the award for services to music, she is also an ambassador for Christian Aid and The Terrence Higgins Trust charities.

Receiving the award she said being face-to-face with the Queen she was struck by her "remarkable aura".

After the ceremony she said the award would mean a lot to her and her family, and the people of Wolverhampton.

She said she had never dreamt of being honoured by the Queen when she began singing in school and church choirs.

'Different league'

"Actually being faced with Her Majesty right there in front of you, she has a remarkable aura and that is the first thing I noticed about her," she said.

"It's just impacting on me exactly what this means not just to myself but to my family and to Wolverhampton," she added.

The honour eclipsed all the other awards she had received, she said.

"This is a different league. The MBE reflects not only on my whole career but the work I do for charities which is immensely important to me.

"I do not do that to be awarded for it, I just do it because it's in my heart, but to be recognised for it, hopefully will put the magnifying glass on to them as well."