GERAINT’S BABY TALK WITH PRINCE
CYCLING star Geraint Thomas has said it was “surreal” to meet the Duke of Cambridge and share parenting tales as he collected his OBE.
The 2018 Tour de France winner and double Olympic champion was recognised for his services to cycling at a royal investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Mr Thomas received his honour from Prince William, saying afterwards: “It was an honour to meet him. It was surreal.”
The 33-year-old, who grew up in Cardiff and attended Whitchurch High School, said the duke asked him about his baby boy who was born three weeks ago.
“He asked how the sleepless nights were going,” he said. “He said their first one took a while for his sleep to kick in. You don’t really know what to expect, but to chat to him about the rugby and my baby was surreal.”
The cyclist – who started on his road to cycling success as a youngster with Cardiff-based club Maindy Flyers – added that it was “humbling” to collect his OBE.
Others to collect honours yesterday included award-winning Welsh author Sarah Waters.
She received an OBE for her services to literature.
Ms Waters, originally from Neyland, Pembrokeshire, and who was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize, said William was a “very calm” presence.
“He asked me about my books and he said he doesn’t get much time to read, understandably, but he’s into audio books,” she said.
Photographer Terence O’Neill, who has captured high-profile figures from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, Elvis, and Nicole Kidman, collected his CBE for services to photography.
He said it “heightened” the honour to have received it from William.
“It surpasses anything I’ve had happen to me in my life,” he added.
Wildlife conservationist Jonathan Vaughan said it was “delightful” to receive his MBE from the duke given his involvement with conservation.
Mr Vaughan, who is the executive director of the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in Malawi, was recognised for his services to combating the illegal wildlife trade.
“It’s a topic the duke knows well,” he said.
Silverback Films co-founder Alastair Fothergill, received his OBE for services to film.
Mr Fothergill produced several series narrated by Sir David Attenborough including the Netflix series Our Planet and the BBC’s Planet Earth.
He said William recognised him after they met earlier in the year in Davos when the duke interviewed Sir David.
Mr Fothergill said the duke had been “very supportive” of his conservation work on television.
“It was nice to talk to him about that and continuing plans for the environment and his passion for the environment,” he said.
“The duke is such a passionate advocate for the natural world.”
Production designer Karen Christie, who is known as Bunny Christie, said it was “really fun” to have received an OBE for her services to theatre.
“We were talking about going to the theatre and he said he needed to go to the theatre more and I agreed with him,” she said with a laugh.
Among those knighted on were Rolls-Royce chairman Sir Ian Davis for his service to business and Sir Frederick Hazlewood, also for his service to business.
Sir Ian said it “felt great” to have been recognised at such a “special” ceremony. The prince is absolutely charming,” he said.
“It’s very nice to get the honour and recognition.”