Sarah Storey receives her damehood in Buckingham Palace investiture
Paralympic gold medallist Sarah Storey has described being made a dame by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace as a "pinch yourself moment".
The athlete, who has won 11 gold medals, was awarded the honour for services to para-cycling.
Storey, 35, from Disley, Cheshire, started her career as a swimmer, winning two gold medals at Barcelona in 1992 before turning to cycling.
She said the elegance of the ceremony was "absolutely amazing".
She said of the investiture ceremony: "It was just lovely.
"The Royal Family are such an amazing example of service to the country, and I just feel honoured to have been able to be here."
'Cycling till the birth'
Asked what Prince of Wales spoke to her about, the heavily pregnant athlete said he asked if she was still cycling and warned her not to have the baby today.
She added: "He said, 'You've got good heritage so maybe your baby will be a good cyclist'."
Storey, who is married to Barney Storey, another of Britain's Paralympic cycling gold medallists, said she was still cycling and planned to train right up to the birth in six weeks.
Storey, who trains in Cheshire, the Peak District and the Manchester Velodrome, said she would defend her titles at Rio in 2016.
Taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones and rower Katherine Copeland were appointed MBE and swimmer Ellie Simmonds was appointed OBE at the ceremony.
Simmonds, 18, from Walsall, said it was "nice way to end a great year" after receiving two gold medals in swimming at the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Jones, 20, won the 57kg women's category in taekwondo in August and emerged as one of the biggest stars of London 2012.
Following her investiture she said: "It's just a great honour and it's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life, so I'm really proud of it."
Locog deputy chairman Sir Keith Mills was awarded a knighthood for services to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.