The heartwarming story behind girl, 11, becoming youngest person ever to be awarded MBE

An 11 year old girl was left "speechless" as she is believed to have become the youngest person ever awarded an MBE. Carmela Chillery-Watson receieved the recognition for her fundraising efforts to help the disease she battles with, Muscular Dystrophy. 

Carmela was diagnoses with the rare muscle wasting condition at the age of three in 2017. The condition only impacts one in a million children globally.

Since her diagnosis the youngster has raised over £400,000 through fundraising and awareness initiatives. After the ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Carmela desribed being left "speechless" when she recieved the letter detailing her honour, The Mirror reports.

She said: "I never would have thought that I would have got an MBE, I just wanted to do what I did to change communities. But this is absolutely incredible. I just never would have thought this would have happened in a million years."

Carmela is believed by the Government to be the youngest-ever person to recieve an MBE, however due to a lack of complete historical records this claim cannot be verified as fact.

Carmela said that the Prince of Wales was "very nice" and spoke to her about her charitable endeavours and the substantial funds she had generated. Alongside Carmela, Claudia Winkleman and her Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly were both made MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours for their services to broadcasting. 

Winkleman accepted the honour alongside her proud husband at Windsor Castle. She was seen to be cracking a joke with the King Charles, whose wife Queen Camilla is known to be a fan of Strictly. 

Paralympic swimmer and volleyball star Monica Vaughan, 73, was also recognsied at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, receiving an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her sporting contributions. Vaughan explained that receiving the OBE was "cherry on the top" of her previous honours, adding: "It is quite amazing."