Zara accepts MBE from grandmother

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Equestrian gold medallist Zara Phillips has collected her MBE from the Queen at a Buckingham Palace investiture.

Dressed in a black coat with gold trim, Zara kissed her grandmother on both cheeks as the medal for services to equestrianism was pinned on her.

The 26-year-old, who is 11th in line to the throne, took top place at the World Equestrian Games in Germany in 2006.

Actor Peter Sallis, voice of Wallace in the animated Wallace and Gromit films, was also present to collect his OBE.

Front row

I asked her how did she feel and she said she was very happy Dorothy Petticrew

Ms Phillips became the third rider ever to hold the World and European titles at the same time.

Her mother, the Princess Royal, her rugby player boyfriend Mike Tindall, her brother Peter Phillips and his fiancee, Autumn Kelly watched the presentation at Buckingham Palace from front-row seats.

Ms Phillips' step-father Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence was also present to be made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (military division).

Dorothy Petticrew who collected her own MBE for services to community development in Northern Ireland, said Ms Phillips seemed relaxed and had chatted to other honours recipients.

"I asked her how did she feel and she said she was very happy," she said.

Last year Ms Phillips picked up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy after a public vote - 35 years after her mother lifted the same award for also becoming European champion.