Why Prince William is in awe of this South Yorkshire foster carer

Christine Lunn was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and she today attended Buckingham Palace, where she was presented with her decoration at a royal investiture ceremony.

The 74-year-old, of North Anston, has cared for more than 250 children since 1975 and said the duke was amazed by how many youngsters she had looked after.

Ms Lunn, who was made an MBE for services to fostering, told the PA news agency: “He said he can't believe I've looked after so many children and said he doesn't know how I've done it. I can't imagine doing anything else."

As well as fostering, Ms Lunn supports young mothers who are struggling to care for their families, giving advice and providing ongoing friendship to those that have adopted the children she has cared for.

Her husband Peter, who died in 2017, supported her in her fostering and helped raise her own children.

The 74-year-old continues to foster and has vowed to ‘go on as long as I possibly can’.

"I love children and making a difference to other children's lives," she said.

"It's just what I'm meant to do."

Ms Lunn had spoken of her shock at the honour earlier this year, saying ‘things like this don’t happen to people like me’.

She also told at the time how she still sees many of the children she has fostered and found it ‘wonderful’ to see how they have grown and progressed.