Nicola Benedetti receives MBE at Buckingham Palace
The talented violinist was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours list, and visited Buckingham Palace to receive the honour at a formal ceremony on 21 May 2013.
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1. Nicola Benedetti MBE
Nicola Benedetti proudly displays her MBE medal. Female recipients of the honour are allowed to wear the medal on a bow, rather than a ribbon!
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2. Nicola Benedetti meets the Queen
The star violinist takes time out of her busy Silver Violin Tour to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
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3. Nicola Benedetti MBE
Nicola Benedetti smiles outside Buckingham Palace with her MBE medal, recognising her work as part of El Sistema Scotland, and honouring her services to music.
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4. Nicola Benedetti meets the Queen
Nicola Benedetti shakes hands with the Queen, before receiving her MBE medal.
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5. Nicola Benedetti receives her honour
The Queen confers the top honour, presenting Nicola with the British Empire Medal, a silver medal on a red bow.
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6. Nicola Benedetti at Buckingham Palace
At the tender age of 25, Nicola didn't expect to receive such a high honour. After making the New Year's Honours list, she said: "I was excited, but a bit taken aback – you don’t expect something like that at 25."
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7. Nicola Benedetti MBE
The violinist receives her British Empire Medal from the Queen at the formal ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
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8. Taking to Twitter
In the age of social media, it wouldn't be an award ceremony without posting a quick snapshot on Twitter! The violinist said: "The Queen was lovely, & I am very touched that my mum, dad and sister all came along." Photo: @NickyBenedetti
