The mother of a “courageous and inspiring” soldier who died as he protected the lives of his comrades in Afghanistan accepted his Victoria Cross (VC).
Kerry Ashworth, 44, said no words could describe her feelings after receiving the VC from the Queen on behalf of her son, 23-year-old Lance Corporal James Ashworth, of 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards.
Mrs Ashworth, of Corby, Northamptonshire, said: “When she (the Queen) left the room, the tears just came.
“I thought it was such an honour for us today as a family, for his friends and for his girlfriend,” she added.
“For us to receive this is a recognition of the really hard job that he did over there. James has gone but he will never be forgotten, he is part of the regimental history, he is part of history.”
L/cpl Ashworth died on June 13 last year after crawling along ground being peppered with bullets to throw his last grenade at a sniper who had his team pinned down.
The citation for his VC said: “Despite the ferocity of the insurgent’s resistance, Ashworth refused to be beaten.
“His total disregard for his own safety in ensuring that the last grenade was posted accurately was the gallant last action of a soldier who had willingly placed himself in the line of fire on numerous occasions earlier in the attack.”
The award is only the second VC to be awarded to a soldier from the UK from the 12-year conflict in Afghanistan.
Other people to receive honours at the ceremony included Paralympic cyclist Neil Fachie, who triumphed in the 1km time trial for the blind and visually impaired in the 2012 Paralympics, and was awarded with an MBE for services to para-cycling.
Mr Fachie, 29, who is from Aberdeen, said it had been “nerve wracking” receiving the award.
Jonathan Fox, 21, from Cornwall, won Paralympic GB’s first swimming gold of the 2012 Games and was awarded an MBE for services to swimming.
“I was thrilled to receive the MBE, I was just really, really honoured and proud,” he said.
British track cyclist Philip Hindes, 20, from Manchester, who was part of the London 2012 gold medal winning team sprint alongside Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny, was awarded an MBE for services to cycling.
“It was a magnificent honour to meet the Queen,” he said.
He paid tribute to the career of Sir Chris, who retired last month from competitive cycling, saying it had been “fantastic” to have competed with him and trained with him.
“He has had a phenomenal career and it was fantastic to have been able to compete with him and train with him,” he said.
“I have learned a lot from him. It was definitely a great honour to ride with him as well.”
Other sports personalities to be honoured included former England cricketer Mark Ramprakash, who received an MBE for services to sport and JJ Williams, who won 30 caps for Wales between 1973 and 1979, who received an MBE for services to rugby and charitable services in Wales.
Mr Ramprakash, 43, played in 52 Test matches for England and is now a batting coach for Middlesex.
Speaking after receiving the MBE, he said: “I am hugely honoured and very proud to have had 25 years in cricket as a player and I hope to remain in the game in some capacity.
Violinist Nicola Benedetti, 25, left, from West Kilbride, said receiving the MBE for services to music and to charity, was a “big honour and privilege”.
She paid tribute to the achievements of other people at the investiture ceremony who were being honoured.
Scottish actress Siobhan Redmond, 53, was made an MBE for services to drama.
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 by the Queen.