Marathon runner Radcliffe collects royal honour

Champion runner Paula Radcliffe has said it was an "immense honour" to be appointed OBE.

The Prince of Wales presented the medal to the three-time London Marathon winner at Tuesday's investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle as she became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to sport.

Radcliffe, who was born in Cheshire but moved to the village of Oakley in Bedfordshire when she was 12, praised Princess Charlotte for helping to inspire girls to take up sport.

At the ceremony, the 52-year-old also said Prince William shared memories of watching her run while he was growing up.

"He was amazing," said Radcliffe, following the ceremony.

"He'd remembered that we'd worked together when Heads Together were the charity partner for the London Marathon, so we talked about people staying fit and how new technology has helped us to stay fit as we get older.

"He remembered watching me run as he was growing up, which is really very sweet."

The sportswoman said she felt several things could hold women back from running, including cultural differences and guilt over leaving the family home to train, but was optimistic about the future.

Radcliffe said: "I think that mindset is really changing now and also safety-wise – there are a lot more moves to protect women when out running and women-friendly races and events as well as training groups.

"So, all of those are helping, and I think role models as well … the Princess of Wales going out with the children, and particularly Princess Charlotte out exercising – I think that's great to see them leading because a lot of people will be inspired by that."

Prince William has previously shared that his 11-year-old daughter took part in netball and ballet.

Radcliffe's comments come after multiple sporting bodies, including the Football Association, the Rugby Football Union and Team GB, announced they were backing a new initiative, the Equal Sport Project, to make the UK the leading country for women's and girls' sports.

Asked how it felt to be appointed OBE, Radcliffe said: "It's huge. I was not expecting it at this stage, some time after my career. It's an immense honour."

Radcliffe set the women's world marathon record at the 2003 London Marathon, finishing in a time of 2hr 15.25secs - a record unbeaten for 16 years.

She has won World, European and Commonwealth medals across 10,000m, 5,000m and cross-country races.

It was announced in December that Radcliffe was being appointed OBE in the New Year Honours list.

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