Buckingham is reported to have announced that Ellen MacArthur has been awarded the prestigious Royal recognition of achievement, the MBE. Ellen, at the tender age of 24, thereby becomes one of the youngest ever Members of the British Empire.

Her list of achievements is as long as many of her older counterparts, including a second in the Vendee Globe, leaderboard position in the Mini Transat, and a win in the recent Transat Jaques Vabre.

Ellen was awarded the honour of Sportswomen of the Year earlier this week. There’s no stopping this girl of moderate height and age with her towering determination and resolve. Congratulations to Ellen!