Tennis star Emma Raducanu ‘extremely grateful’ for MBE after meeting King at Windsor Castle

Emma Raducanu after she was made a MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by King Charles III at Windsor Castle
Emma Raducanu after she was made a MBE Credit: PA

Tennis star Emma Raducanu said she is “extremely grateful” for her MBE after meeting the King at a special ceremony. The 20-year-old, from Bromley, south east London, beamed as she posed for pictures after accepting the honour, awarded for services to tennis, at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. She was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire after her US Open victory in 2021 made her the first British woman to win a grand slam since Virginia Wade in 1977 – and the first qualifier of any nationality to do so. The victory over Canadian – and fellow teenager – Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 at Flushing Meadows came when she was 18.

Emma Raducanu was give the honour during an Investiture ceremony Credit: PA

In a statement issued by her agent after the ceremony, she said: “It’s been great to receive my honour today from his Majesty the King – I feel extremely grateful.” Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith, who collected her honour at the same ceremony, said of Ms Raducanu: “I think it is fantastic seeing a young person (achieve) the success that she had and I think obviously now she faces that incredibly challenging situation of coping with that success and coping also with disappointment. “And I certainly think it is wonderful to see young people being praised and being rewarded and let’s make sure we give every young person the opportunities so that they can develop their talents to the full.”

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