Denise Lewis was officially made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
The sporting star, 50, who lives in Buckinghamshire, won heptathlon gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
In December, it was announced that the athlete – who was awarded an OBE 23 years ago – had been included in the Palace’s annual New Year Honours List.
For the ceremony today, the mother-of-four opted for a stunning teal-toned ensemble.
Denise looked sensational in a midi blue crepe dress with puff sleeves and a matching feathered fascinator.
The stylish sportswoman completed her outfit with a pair of navy patent heels and dangly sapphire earrings.
After news of her Damehood was announced, Denise said she was ‘blown away’ by the honour.
She said at the time: ‘I can’t even process it, but I haven’t stopped smiling since I heard the news.
‘It’s an incredible honour. I’m just trying to take it in and its enormity. I recognise that I’m one of very few women in athletics that have received a damehood. I’m just so proud and incredibly beside myself.’
Denise grew up in West Bromwich and rose to through the ranks at Birchfield Harriers club.
Six years before her life-changing Olympics win, Denise won a gold medal at the 1994 at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.
The mother-of-four has been President of the Commonwealth Games England since 2016 – having succeeded Dame Kelly Holmes.
Sir David Hempleman-Adams – who was the first man to reach the Geographic and Magnetic North and South Poles – also received a Bar to the Polar Medal this afternoon.
The Polar Medal is awarded for distinguished work in the Arctic or Antarctic and a bar is awarded for each separate expedition.
Moeen Ali, 35, who has come out of Test retirement to join the England squad for the first two of the five Ashes Tests against Australia, becomes an OBE for services to cricket.
Mr Ali, who was joined by his wife Firoza, missed training ahead of the first Test to attend the ceremony.
Moeen who has not played an international Test for nearly two years, having previously announced his retirement from red-ball cricket, was called in earlier this month as a replacement for first-choice spinner Jack Leach, after he was ruled out with a stress fracture to his back.
Coronation Street Anthony Cotton was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire as a result of his campaigning for mental health support for members of the Armed Forces.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
