Pop star Eve Graham, who was a singer in the 1970s group the New Seekers, has said it is “amazing and humbling” to be made an MBE.
The singer was at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh for the King’s investiture ceremony on Tuesday as part of Royal Week in Scotland.
Other Scots to receive honours included former Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge and former Scotland rugby captain Rob Wainwright, both of whom were made OBEs.
Ms Graham, from Perth, was among those named on the New Year’s Honours list.
Speaking to Press Association following the investiture ceremony, she said the honour had come as a surprise.
She said: “I’d been in America last November, singing over there.
“I came back and two days later on the doorstep was this letter.
“It was just so out of the blue, I was still suffering from jetlag.
“It was just amazing and so humbling.
“Though I’ve had a great career, the last thing I expected was to be honoured for it.”
The New Seekers had international success with tracks like I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing and were Britain’s 1972 Eurovision entry.
Ms Graham, who is still performing, said Lulu had paved the way for Scottish singers to find success.
Ann Budge reflected on her tenure as Hearts’ chairwoman (Aaron Chown/PA)
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Giving advice to young musicians at the start of their career, she said: “Do it because you love doing it and if it turns into something successful, or anything else, then you’re going to enjoy doing it even more.”
Ms Budge stepped down from her long-standing position as chairwoman of Hearts at the end of last year, though remains an honorary president.
The businesswoman said the investiture had been a “lovely, lovely experience”.
She said Hearts had experienced its “ups and downs” during her tenure, but is nevertheless on an upward trajectory.
She told Press Association: “I’ve still got my season ticket, I’ve never given that up.
“I haven’t enjoyed the last few months because it’s really quite difficult standing back when you’ve been so heavily involved over such a long period.
“That said – I’m now the honorary president.
“Which really means I don’t have to do anything except be wheeled out every so often. So, that’s quite nice.”
Rob Wainwright thanked those who contributed to Doddie Weir’s foundation (Aaron Chown/PA)
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Hearts had a “fantastic” season and came within “a few minutes of winning the league”.
She expressed hope the Edinburgh side would win the Scottish Premiership, saying: “I hope we carry on stronger than ever.”
Wainwright was made an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours list for his voluntary and charity services, having contributed to the late Doddie Weir’s foundation.
He launched the Doddie’s Triple Crown endurance cycling challenge, which this year raised more than £1 million for the motor neurone disease charity.
He told Press Association it had been “a real honour to meet the King and to have recognition”, and thanked those who worked at the foundation.
He said: “I’ve been in great company, some really interesting people who’ve done amazing things.”
Wainwright added: “We’ve had an amazing six or seven years of fundraising for My Name’s Doddie Foundation.
“We’ve got a fantastic community and I’m kind of collecting this on behalf of all the people who answered the call and came out, mainly on their bikes, and suffered a bit in order to raise money and find a cure for MND.”
