Among those invited to a royal reception at St James's Palace in London were Lance-Corporal Johnson Beharry, decorated for twice saving members of his unit from ambushes in Iraq four years ago, and Margaret Purves, who rescued a boy scout and his leader from the sea aged 14 in 1949.
Also among the day's heroes were Henry Flintoff, who at the age of 13 rescued a farmer from a bull in 1944, and Dr Dick Butson, honoured for a 1947 Antarctic rescue operation.
Despite their courage some of Prince Charles' guests apparently find being in the spotlight at the biennial event a little nervewracking, though.
Arriving with Corporal Willie Apiata VC, a New Zealand SAS man recently recognised for rescuing a comrade under fire in Afghanistan, 29-year-old Johnson joked: "It's good to have a new boy so he can take some of the pressure off me."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
