She's still sprinting: Olympian Victoria Pendleton dashes from the palace to Prince's Trust event after collecting CBE
By J J ANISIOBI
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Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton certainly had a busy day - but then she is used to making a dash for it.
She arrived at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday morning as she was made a CBE by the Queen - but soon changed tack to make it in time for a red carpet appearance at the Prince's Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards at Odeon Leicester Square in London.
Sprint cycling record breaker Pendleton, 32, covered up in a cream colour cape with black lining to accept the great honour from Queen Elizabeth.
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By order of the queen: Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton was made a Commander of the British Empire on Tuesday
At the Palace: Pendleton arrives at Buckingham Palace with fiance Scott Gardner (left) to receive her CBE from the Queen
Victorious: Pendleton won gold and silver at the London 2012 Olympics
Once she stepped in from the cold the retired athlete removed the cape and revealed her stone colour jacket which she teamed with a black skirt and ankle boots.
Her interesting hat added a few more inches to her height.
Victoria retired from bike racing after London 2012 with a keirin gold and sprint silver to add to her gold from Beijing 2008.
Hats off: After the palace Victoria headed to the Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards, held in London's Leicester Square
Busy day: Idris Elba, actor Sam Claflin, Victoria chew the fat at the Prince's Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards at Odeon Leicester Square
Speaking after the ceremony, she said: 'When you see an envelope come through the door with ER on the postmark it's pretty exciting and you open it up and it offers you a huge reward.
'Having an MBE already I didn't expect to get anything further then that really, so to get an upgrade to a CBE is very special.'
Speaking about her memories of London 2012, she recalled: 'There was so much going on it was so busy, so much emotion in what you were doing, it kind of all muddles into one.
Award: Pendleton (right) receives her CBE medal from Queen Elizabeth II (left) at Buckingham Palace
Moment of truth: Victoria was upgraded from a MBE to CBE
Designer: McCartney (right) designed the Team GB Olympic kit
'I was going for three golds but I ended up with one gold and one silver due to judges' decisions as well. You don't plan for mishaps of that nature.
'I would have loved to have been more successful at the Olympics but to come away with a gold medal and a silver medal, I'm still very proud of it.'
The sportswoman, who arrived with her fiance Scott Gardner, was a contestant on the last series of the BBC celebrity dance show Strictly Come Dancing.
Honoured: Victoria Pendleton holds her Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award
Chic couple: Fashion designer Stella McCartney at Buckingham Palace in with husband Alasdhair Willis for the Investiture Ceremony
Chic: Fashion designer Stella McCartney said the Queen had style when she picked up her OBE
Stella McCartney dubbed the Queen 'chic' after she was awarded an OBE for a successful career in fashion.
The designer, who is the daughter of ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and his first wife Linda, also dedicated the honour to her team at her fashion label, a leading force on the world stage.
Speaking after the Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony, where the Queen wore a pale coloured dress,
Deserved: Laura Whitmore, Idris Elba, Sam Claflin look on as Victoria Pendleton meets the The Prince of Wales
Congratulated: Kelly Hoppen grins as she meets The Prince of Wales
Now, are you that fellow from Homeland? Prince Charles meets Damian Lewis after the Prince's Trust Awards
Let's get ready to rumble: Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly usually make the jokes, but Prince Charles proves he has a rival wit
Men of the moment: Actors Idris Elba and Damian Lewis both attended the Prince's Trust & Samsung Celebrate Success Awards
Suited and booted: The Homeland actor arrived with his wife Helen McCrory
McCartney said: 'She looks very chic I thought, beautiful,' then added laughing: "='It should have been Stella McCartney of course - I slipped her a card.'
Commenting on the OBE the designer, who wore one of her own creations a trademark blue fitted skirt suit, added: 'It's just a great honour for me, I work with a big team of people so I think it's as much for them.
'It's a fantastic moment to be marked, it's a great way of placing yourself in your career.'
Leader of the pack: Tinie Tempah, Laura Whitmore, Idris Elba, The Prince of Wales, Damian Lewis, Helen McCrory, Victoria Pendleton, Sam Claflin and Kate Adie paid tribute to to young people who have overcome adversity
For a good cause: Prince Charles gave the always smooth Idris a run for his money in the fashion stakes
The other queen: Dame Helen Mirren looked picture perfect in her green and black floral dress
VIDEO See stars Damian Lewis and Idris Elba at awards ceremony
'It was really good fun but hard work, I lost a lot of muscle which upset me because I wasn't weight training anymore, but I thoroughly enjoyed it - the hair, make-up, the costumes.
'It was something different to do to fill that gap after a major event. I knew it was going to feel terrible - I'd retired, the Olympics were over, it was going to be a bit of an anti-climax, so having something like Strictly to fill that gap was a good thing, that's why I took it on in the first place.'E.
Familiar face: Laura Whitmore made sure she covered up on the red carpet in a lovely two piece suit
Best of British: Pirates of the Caribbean star Sam Clafin and The Inbetweeners star Laura Haddock also attended the bash
Stepping out: Douglas Booth and Laura Mvula dressed to impress for the event
From the television to the red carpet: Anna Williamson, Emily Maitlis, and Levi Roots
Pendleton is a former Commonwealth Games sprint gold medallist, winning in Melbourne 2006 and a double European team sprint champion.
Her success made her the pin-up girl of the cycling world and she was the cover star of magazines like Esquire and Harper's Bazaar and launched a range of women's bikes with Halfords.
Following her big day at the palace Victoria headed over to attend The Prince's Trust and Samsung Celebrate Success Awards at Odeon Leicester Square.
Other stars that joined her included actors Idris Elba and Damian Lewis, as well as fashion designer Stella McCartney, OBE.
Flashing her winning smile: Victoria beamed as she headed onto the stage to present an award
In the presence of greatness: Laura Mvula and Mark Ronson pose with prizewinner Bethany Evans
Enjoying the ceremony: Damian Lewis and his wife Helen McCrory put on an affectionate display
The Prince's Trust and Samsung Celebrate Success Awards recognises young people who have overcome challenges such as homelessness, drug addiction, unemployment and mental health issues.
This is the national final following a series of regional award ceremonies across the country at the end of last year.
The Prince's Trust helps disadvantaged young people get their lives on track, it also supports people aged 13-30 who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.
The trust's programmes give vulnerable young people practical and financial support in a bid to stabilise their lives, encouraging higher self-esteem and skills for work.
Three in four young people supported by the trust move into work, education or training, and it has helped more than 700,000 young people since 1976, supporting 100 more each day, the charity said.
Demure: The 67-year-old actress was moved to tears during the awards show
Say cheese! Kelly Hoppen and Douglas Booth posed for a photograph together
During the awards show, Dame Helen was moved to tears by one winner,and had to compose herself as she posed for photographs with the winner and Charles on stage.
Naomi Johnston, 27, from Edinburgh received the Mappin and Webb Young Ambassador of the Year award from the emotional actress who wiped tears away from her cheeks.
Speaking about the event, Mirren said: 'All the young people here today are truly inspirational. Their remarkable stories have blown me away.
'I would like to congratulate each and every young person for showing that with resilience and hard work you really can reach your potential and be an inspiration to others.'
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