Emma Raducanu is now officially a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) following the ceremony that took place on Tuesday at Windsor Castle. Today, King Charles III handed Raducanu her MBE, the award she received for her services to tennis.
Following her historical win at the 2021 US Open, Raducanu’s name appeared in the 2022 New Year Honours List, which was announced on 31 December of last year. Last year, Raducanu became the first British female player to win a Grand Slam since Virginia Wade won the 1977 Wimbledon title.
“It’s been great to receive my honour today from his Majesty the King – I feel extremely grateful,” Raducanu said in a statement via her agent.
Raducanu is extremely popular among British kids
Raducanu, who turned 20 this month, is already one of the most popular British athletes.
After Raducanu’s 2021 US Open win, more British kids became interested in tennis and picked up a racket to play the game. “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,” Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith said of Raducanu.
Raducanu is seemingly becoming very liked among the British Royal Family. After Raducanu won the US Open, she received a letter from none other than the late Queen Elizabeth II, who congratulated her on her astonishing success.
Following the Queen’s death, Raducanu paid her tributes by saying her nation lost a very strong leader, who did a lot of good for the British people.
