Nicola Benedetti takes a bow as she picks up MBE

A STYLISH Nicola Benedetti was among Scots to receive honours from the Queen at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.The violinist, from West Kilbride, said being an MBE, awarded for services to music and charity, was a “big honour and privilege”.

Nicola Benedetti: A big honour Picture: PA

The 25-year-old also paid tribute to the achievements of other people at the ceremony. “I am often on stage and often written about,” she said. “But what a lot of these people do is so private – only their families know what they do and what they sacrifice.”

Other Scots honoured included cyclist Neil Fachie, who triumphed in the 1km time trial for the blind and visually impaired in the 2012 Paralympics, and was made an MBE for services to paracycling.

Mr Fachie, 29, who is from Aberdeen, but lives in Altrincham, Cheshire, said: “It was a nerve-racking moment, but it was a real honour and something I won’t forget.

“The Queen congratulated me and said it was ‘just another medal for my collection’, and she asked if I was continuing cycling. I told her I was going to Rio.”

Scottish actress Siobhan Redmond, 53, was made an MBE for services to drama. She said she was “thrilled” to receive the award. “It is absolutely astonishing to me that anyone other than me has any pleasure from my work,” she added.

Lord Strathclyde, who resigned as leader of the House of Lords in January, said he was “absolutely thrilled” to be made a Companion of Honour.

Lance Corporal James Ashworth, 23, who died on 13 June after crawling along ground being peppered by bullets to save his team, became the second soldier from the conflict in Afghanistan to be honoured with the Victoria Cross.