HARWICH and North Essex’s MP Sir Bernard Jenkin has become a knight of the realm following

a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Sir Bernard knelt before the Princess Royal to receive the honour which was given to him for his political and public service over the past 26 year.

Sir Bernard, 59, described the honour as a “very special experience”.

He attended the investiture ceremony with his wife, Baroness Anne Jenkin, and his sons Robert, 29, and Peter, 27.

He said: “It was a very special day to be there with so many other people receiving awards for their public service.

“Two people were given bravery awards which was particularly moving to see.”

Sir Bernard said Princess Anne talked to everyone who received an award on the day which included Lizzy Yarnold, Britain’s most decorated winter Olympian, who was awarded an OBE.

Sir Bernard said he was able to talk to Princess Anne about Harwich and Trinity House - and he apologised that Brexit looked “a bit of a mess”.

He added: “I owe my knighthood to a great many who have supported me and my work as well as the people in my constituency.

“I felt I was receiving the knighthood in honour of them.”

Sir Bernard was first elected as the Colchester North MP in 1992.

An outspoken Brexiteer, he was one of the original Maastricht Rebels who defied the party whip to oppose the Maastricht Treaty.

He has held positions as Shadow Minister for Transport, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, Shadow Regions Secretary and Shadow Energy Minister. He also served as chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs select committees and as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.

Sir Bernard is also vice-president of the UK charity Combat Stress, which offers residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

To mark his 50th birthday, he held a fundraising event in 2009 which raised more than £50,000 for the charity.

Sir Bernard is the inspiration for the Bernards who appear in the films by screenwriter Richard Curtis, a former boyfriend of wife, Anne.