Britain’s Queen Elizabeth presented James Nesbitt with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at Buckingham Palace in London yesterday (22.03.16).
The 89-year-old royal handed the medal to the ‘Cold Feet’ actor after an Investiture ceremony at the residence and principal workplace of the reigning monarch in recognition of his services to drama and to the community.
He said: "I’ve been very blessed with my work and very blessed to come from Northern Ireland, and for those two things to be on the citation was really rather gratifying."
The 51-year-old star is a patron of the Wave Trauma Centre, which supports those bereaved, injured or traumatised by the conflict, an ambassador for UNICEF UK and a supporter of Action Cancer.
Meanwhile, James – who carries out most of his community work in Northern Ireland – wasn’t the only person who received an OBE yesterday, as actress Barbara Windsor, 78, also picked up a medal for her ambassadorial work.
The former ‘EastEnders’ star – known for playing matriarch Peggy Mitchell in the soap – is a patron for Age UK and also impressed the Queen when she helped launch the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in October last year.
Queen Elizabeth presents James Nesbitt with OBE
