Katie Piper almost missed out on collecting OBE after running late

Katie Piper almost missed out on collecting her OBE from Princess Anne.

The Loose Women star said she was running so late to the ceremony held at Windsor Castle on Wednesday that she and her family had to run up the castle's steep and winding hill.

She told fellow panellists Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan, Gloria Hunniford OBE and Janet Street Porter CBE via video link live from Windsor, “We were late! Running up the hill, sweating to the castle!”

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However, Piper, who was at the event with her mother Diane and husband Richard Piper, managed to remain cool in the presence of Princess Anne, who she described as welcoming and not at all intimidating.

“I think she’s so down to earth, Princess Anne, she really knew all about my charity," said the 38-year-old.

"She talked to me at length about acid attacks happening in this country and internationally. So it felt very personal.”

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She also added that while her two young daughters, Penelope and Belle, had to miss out on attending the event because they were in school, it felt special to receive the award with her husband and mother there to witness it.

“It’s amazing to share it with my mum... I’ve got my husband here, my biggest supporter.”

Diane, who was also on the video call gushed that it was a very “proud” day and "quite a surreal moment, really. When I think back 12-13 years ago, I could never see this happening at all".

When asked if she cried, Diane said: “No, not really.”

It was all smiles on Wednesday as she showed up in a stylish all-white outfit and proudly posed with her medal outside the castle.

Piper received her OBE after being named in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

The TV presenter, who suffered life changing burns in acid attack by an ex-boyfriend in 2008, was recognised for services to charity and victims of burns and other disfigurement injuries.

It led to severe disfigurement to her face, blindness in one eye and scarring to her chest, neck and arm.

She went on to undergo pioneering surgery to fix the damage and restore her vision. She shared her story in in 2009's Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face.

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