OLYMPIC cycling couple Jason and Laura Kenny have been presented with honours by the Duke of Cambridge.
Laura received her damehood alongside husband Jason, who was awarded a knighthood, at Windsor Castle today.
Between them the Chelford couple have won 12 Olympic gold medals.
Their investiture ceremony follows 30-year-old Laura sharing her personal experience of losing her unborn child in an Instagram post last month.
She says the decision to open up about her miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy was to “give support to other women."
Dame Laura said: “You wish it never happens to you and it’s not until you go through it that you realise how lonely it is, and I think it was that that made us realise that actually, OK, it was a bad situation to us but lots of people go through it.
“You don’t know where to turn to and I think just by us being ‘brave’, (as) lots of people were branding it.
“But by stepping out and actually saying ‘look, it can happen to anyone and it has happened to us’, it gave lots of people a platform.
“There were so many stories that people shared which they were happy for me to share.
“I just think if it gives support to other women, other families then that was the whole reason why I chose to speak out in the first place.”
Golden couple Dame Laura and Sir Jason were given the titles for services to the sport.
The cycling stars also revealed that William asked them if Sir Jason, who retired from racing to move into coaching, would now train Dame Laura.
She said: “He asked whether I was carrying on and whether now Jason coaches me, to which obviously I said he didn’t.
“And then he also said he will be at the Commonwealth Games as well which I’m hoping will be my next bike race, and he sent love to our family as well which was nice.”
Sir Jason, 34, added: “He (William) mentioned the fact I have retired and gone into coaching and said Laura had mentioned that I did not coach her.
“I just said ‘she doesn’t listen to me anyway’.”
Reflecting on the ceremony, Dame Laura said: “Personally I find it so nerve-wracking, I think because there is a protocol to it, it scares me that I’m going to do something wrong.
“I did actually tell Prince William that too that I felt really very nervous.
“But it has been lovely.
“Obviously to have the opportunity to come to something so grand, that obviously doesn’t happen for very many people, so it’s brilliant and to be able to do it together has been lovely.”
What a truly wonderful day. When you step onto the track you know you are there to win a medal, but you don’t ever think about huge honours like this. So when you are recognised it’s incredible and humbling. To be able to once again do it together makes it all the more special💛 pic.twitter.com/EXRe3MsQOU
— Dame Laura Kenny (@LauraKenny31) May 17, 2022
A sporting celebration!
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) May 17, 2022
From Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny to Barry Middleton MBE and Kathleen Dawson MBE, these Olympians have inspired so many young athletes.
Congratulations to all those who received their honours today! pic.twitter.com/1fQa37QzOH
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