Pleased to meet you ma'am! The Queen hosts star-studded reception to honour first winners of her Young Leaders programme at Buckingham Palace
- Queen held reception for first winners of her Young Leaders programme
- Scheme recognises contribution of young people in the Commonwealth
- 60 young people received awards for their work in local communities
The Queen hosted a star-studded reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the first ever winners of her Young Leaders programme earlier today.
David Beckham, David Walliams and Sir John Major also attended the ceremony, which recognised the contribution of young people across the Commonwealth and saw 60 young people receive awards for their work in local communities.
Beckham told the audience: 'I do not claim to be a public speaker and I am not an expert in the fields some of you are.'
The Queen meets Angela Benedicto Mnagoza from Tanzania, one of the winners of her Young Leaders programme earlier today at Buckingham Palace
He continued: 'I am honoured to be here this evening. With people like you I know the world will become a better place.
'Congratulations, well done and I'm very proud to be here.
'Good luck in the future. I'm sure you are going to make us all proud.'
The awards were part of a five year programme established by The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in partnership with Comic Relief and the Royal Commonwealth Society to honour the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Devika Malik from India meets the Queen
Sixty winners will be chosen each year, one winner for each year the Queen had served as head of the Commonwealth as she marked the Diamond Jubilee.
Also attending the ceremony was former BBC Radio 1 presenter Fearne Cotton, who is a supporter of the programme.
She said: 'The ceremony was actually massively emotional and I wasn't expecting that at all. It was really special - live orchestra playing and everyone looking incredible and beautiful.
'There are special people out there that have that special leadership skill and this will give them the fire in the belly that they need to continue.
'I think this event is massively important. I do not think these people are necessarily getting a huge pat on their back every day for what they are doing.'
David Beckham meets the Queen ahead of her celebration of young leaders at Buckingham Palace today
Edmund Page, 29, who is based in Cirencester, was named a Young Leader for his work educating refugees in Uganda and Kenya
Edmund Page, 29, who is based in Cirencester, was one of three Britons named a Queen's Young Leader for his work educating refugees in Uganda and Kenya.
He said: 'Picking leaders from all of the Commonwealth governments, that exemplifies inclusivity to all the countries involved.
'Tonight shows that you do not have to be anyone in particular to be a leader in your community.
'It would be great if more young people all over the Commonwealth applied.'
Kellyn George from Dominica was one of the young people who had been invited to meet the Queen
Nicola Byrom, 28, from Oxford, was recognised for her work improving student mental health.
She said: 'I had mental health difficulties myself as a teenager and struggled with an eating disorder. I found it quite hard when I moved to university as people did not talk about mental health much.
'I wanted to get more people talking about mental health.
'Everyone here is so inspirational. It's been great to be given the opportunity to meet them.'
Nicola Byrom, 28, from Oxford, was recognised for her work improving student mental health
The ceremony was part of a week of events to help develop award-winners' leadership skills.
Earlier, the winners visited 10 Downing Street where they met David Cameron and asked him questions, before visiting Twitter UK headquarters and the BBC World Service.
Ms Byrom said Mr Cameron faced some 'really quite difficult questions' from the young leaders.
She said: 'They had a common theme in trying to get an answer to how to get governments engaged with grass-roots organisations.'
Brit Zoe Jackson wore a similar colour scheme to the Queen when she met her at Buckingham Palace today
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