Rugby superstar Jonny Wilkinson arrived to pick up his MBE at Buckingham Palace in style, cruising up in a chauffer-driven Lexus and stepping out of the luxury ride wearing a top hat and tails.
Jonny's parents and his girlfriend Diana Stewart accompanied him on the special occasion, during which he met the Queen for the second time in three days.
The Rugby World Cup champs gathered at Buckingham Palace earlier this week to meet the monarch after a spectacular parade honouring the squad. "When the Queen gave me my MBE, she said how much she had enjoyed Monday's reception," said Jonny. "I told her that all the players were still talking about it. To be here twice in a week is just a fantastic honour. It's something I am never going to forget."
But Jonny's Tuesday night auto crash, from which he emerged unharmed, was on the minds of many, even the Queen. "She asked me how I was – I think she was referring to news of the car accident," said the 24-year-old athlete. "I said I'm fine and that is was a very, very minor crash… No one was hurt and we just needed to sort the car out."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
