The district’s MP officially received her Damehood from HRH the Duke of Cambridge.

Dame Eleanor Laing, who was part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, attended the investiture at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her work.

She has been an MP for Epping Forest for 21 years and was appointed a member of the Privy Council last November.

She was also a Shadow Minister for 12 years and has been a Deputy Speaker for more than four-and-a-half years.

In response to her new title, Dame Eleanor said: "It was a great privilege to be invited to Buckingham Palace where Prince William performed the investiture ceremony making me a 'Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire’.

"Prince William was charming and we had a very pleasant conversation about my role as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

"It was really impressive and often touching to see a number of really wonderful people receiving honours for their selfless commitment to various good causes.

"It was lovely to see how proud their families were of them."