Esteemed BBC broadcaster Martha Kearney has admitted to feeling "surprisingly nervous" as she was honoured with a CBE by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle.
A Prestigious Honour for Services to Journalism
Martha Kearney, 68, was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on Tuesday 13 January 2026. The award recognises her distinguished services to journalism and broadcasting over a long and celebrated career. Kearney, who stepped down as a presenter of BBC Radio 4's flagship Today programme last year after a six-year tenure, described the investiture ceremony as an awe-inspiring experience.
"I was surprisingly nervous given all the things I’ve done, but it’s such an incredible place, Windsor Castle," Kearney told the Press Association. "You go through a series of State rooms before you finally meet the Princess Royal. And I suppose I was slightly overawed but my family were with me and they were very proud. In fact, one of my brothers burst into tears. I haven’t seen him like that since childhood."
Royal Interest and a Shift to Positive Programming
During their conversation, Princess Anne showed a keen interest in Kearney's current work on the Radio 4 programme This Natural Life, querying how she manages to describe nature effectively on a purely audio medium. Kearney explained that she benefits from "incredibly enthusiastic" guests who excel at "painting pictures with words."
This focus on nature follows a significant career shift for the journalist. Speaking about her departure from the Today programme, Kearney revealed she "had reached a point where I was happy to step away from doing news." She added, "Of course I still devour Radio 4 all the time, but there’s something really lovely about doing programmes which have such a positive response from listeners." She believes audiences find her current output "a refreshing change and a sort of respite from sometimes rather bleak news in the world at the moment."
A Storied Broadcasting Career
Kearney's illustrious career spans decades and multiple high-profile roles. Before joining Today, she was the first female presenter of Radio 4's The World At One, following seven years as Newsnight's political editor. The Dublin-born journalist has interviewed prime ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Rishi Sunak and covered several US presidential elections.
Her versatility is further demonstrated by her nine-year stint as a regular presenter on Woman's Hour, where she interviewed cultural icons like Amy Winehouse, Hilary Mantel, and Jane Fonda. More recently, in December, she conducted an interview with King Charles III at Dumfries House in Ayrshire about his environmental passions, which was broadcast at Christmas.
Kearney, who was observing Dry January, confirmed she would break her abstinence to celebrate the honour with her family. The ceremony at Windsor Castle held special significance, as her previous visits had all been for work. Other notable figures decorated on the same day included Scottish broadcaster Jackie Bird, who received an MBE, and Bad Wolf chief executive Jane Tranter, who was also made a CBE for services to television.
