Rachel Riley looked super happy to receive the honour from King Charles III (Picture: Getty/PA)
Rachel Riley has received an MBE from King Charles III.
The Countdown star, 37, was honoured for her services to Holocaust education, and for raising awareness of antisemitism.
Attending Windsor Castle today, the maths whiz looked super smart in an elegant baby pink dress, along with a matching hat and heels.
The star smiled as she shook King Charles’ hand and looked delighted to be there alongside other honoured guests such as Sir Alok Sharma and David Harewood.
Rachel posed proudly with her medal under the arm of her husband Pasha Kovalev, as she beamed from ear to ear.
‘On our way to Windsor… eek!’ the star wrote on Twitter this morning ahead of the big day.
The star looked super smart for the presentation, held at Windsor Castle today (Picture: PA)
The Countdown host posed next to her husband Pasha Kovalev (Picture: PA)
Back when she was named in the New Year Honours list in December, the mathematician wrote on social media: ‘Incredibly proud to have just been awarded an MBE for services to Holocaust education.
‘Grateful to everyone who has sent well wishes and support over the years.
‘This is very much shared with so many people who also dedicate their time and energy to fighting anti-Jewish racism.’
The TV star – whose mother is Jewish – has been an avid campaigner over the years, and was a vocal critic of Labour’s handling of alleged antisemitism within the party under Jeremy Corbyn.
Last year Mr Corbyn’s former aide, Laura Murray, was ordered to pay Rachel £10,000 damages in the wake of a a Twitter row after losing an appeal against a High Court libel ruling.
In January 2019, Rachel made a speech at a Westminster reception for the Holocaust Educational Trust, in which she opened up about the abuse she received on social media as a public figure.
Rachel was a vocal critic against Labour’s handling of the alleged antisemitism in the party while Jeremy Corbyn was leader (Picture: PA)
Homeland actor David Harewood also received the honour today (Picture: PA)
Meanwhile, 57-year-old actor David, best known for starring in spy series Homeland, was honoured for services to drama and charity after he spoke up for mental health support and against racism.
On being awarded the honour back in December, he said: ‘An award from a new King should be cause for massive celebration, and yet already I hear the chorus of self defeating voices rattling around my head, thoughts of ‘Empire’ and subjugation confusing the picture and again shifting the earth underneath.
‘I stop for a moment and think of all the others whose contributions have gone unnoticed and unpaid for and accept this award on their behalf, and continue to speak truth to power whenever and wherever I see the need.’
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Congrats, Rachel!
