Olympics ace Jessica Ennis receives CBE after ‘amazing year’

Athletics star Jessica Ennis received a CBE from the Queen but was so nervous she forgot what she said.

The 27-year-old who took heptathlon gold in last year’s Olympic Games arrived at Buckingham Palace with fiance Andy Hill, whom she will marry this year.

Ennis said: “I’m feeling very excited, though it was nerve-wracking before. It’s incredible to receive this.”

Asked what the Queen said, she replied: “She just said the summer was amazing, ‘How’s training going?’, so it was very, very nice.”

Ennis was at the centre of a feel-good summer last year as Team GB made the nation proud.

“It still doesn’t feel real, to be honest,” she said. “It was just an amazing year for British athletics and British sport and to be part of that in such a big way was incredible.”

Ennis was joined by a host of other sports stars.

Sprint cyclist Jason Kenny was awarded an OBE with MBEs going to long jumper Greg Rutherford, flyweight boxer Nicola Adams and cycling team pursuit gold winner Joanna Rowsell.

Performance director of British Cycling Sir David Brailsford was given a knighthood and said: “I’m very proud.”

Cherie Blair received a CBE for services to charity.