Presenter Clare Balding was left by her own admission a gibbering wreck as the Princess Royal presented her with an OBE for a dazzling career in broadcasting on Thursday.
An attack of nerves saw the normally calm and accomplished TV personality fluff her curtsey to Anne and almost trip up during the investiture ceremony staged at Windsor Castle.
Clare Balding
Balding, 42, who was joined by her partner Alice Arnold at the Queen's Berkshire home, said after the ceremony: "I'm still a bit shaky now, I talked absolute gibberish, absolute gibberish - I was just hopeless. Mucked my curtsey up, nearly fell over as I turned and walked away, messed up properly, but luckily not too many people had seen that."
The versatile broadcaster, who was an amateur jockey, has presented horse racing on radio and television for more than 18 years, and also hosted Countryfile, Crufts and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Meanwhile, former Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey was also made a CBE for a career in business and her charitable work.
Hilary Devey
The businesswoman founded the multimillion-pound freight distribution business Pall-Ex after selling her home and car in the 1990s to finance the firm.
Her charity work includes her position as vice president of the Carers Trust and she is also patron of the Stroke Association.
Ms Devey, who appeared at the investiture ceremony in a wheelchair after a recent back operation, said: "It's a great honour to be here and I'm a staunch supporter of the Royal Family."
Speaking about her time on the BBC's Dragons' Den she said: "It's very serious, it's very competitive and it is your money you're putting up so you do need to scrutinise the potential businesses - I miss it."
