Beaming Wolverhampton soul star Beverley Knight told today how she was struck by the Queen’s “remarkable aura” when she collected her MBE at Buckingham Palace.

The 33-year-old former Highfields Secondary School pupil received the award for services to music.

Beverley said: “All the formalities like the line-up I wasn’t worried about.

“But actually being faced with Her Majesty right there in front of you – she has a remarkable aura.

“It’s just impacting on me exactly what this means – not just to myself but to my family and to Wolverhampton.”

Beverley, whose mother Delores Smith lives in Pendeford, revealed she had told the Queen music was the  most important thing in her life.