The Princess Royal has honoured a Scottish outdoor diversity champion, a renowned historian, and charity founders at an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Wednesday. Zahrah Mahmood, known as the Hillwalking Hijabi, received an MBE for her work promoting inclusion in outdoor activities, alongside author Alistair Moffat and humanitarian couple John and Lorna Norgrove.
Mahmood, the 35-year-old president of Ramblers Scotland and mother-of-two, described the recognition as "quite surreal." Speaking after the ceremony, she said: «It has still not sunk in.» The honour, she explained, brings credibility to her mission: «(The honour) amplifies the messages that people like myself are trying to get out, which is that everybody belongs in the outdoors, no matter what background or culture or religion or even financial background you're from. It's a place for everybody.» Mahmood champions diversity within outdoor communities through her social media presence.
Alistair Moffat, 75, received an MBE for his services to literature and culture. The prolific author has written more than 40 books on Scottish history and founded the Borders Book Festival in 2004. After the ceremony, he said: «It's wonderful to come to a place that's so central to Scotland's history. We're right here in the heart of it, at Holyrood palace.» But the recognition won't slow his pace: «I don't want to see this as the end of anything. It's just another stage along the way and I've got a great deal more that I still want to do.» He is currently writing a book and organizing another festival in Melrose for June.
John and Lorna Norgrove were both made OBEs for their services to women and children abroad and in Scotland through the Linda Norgrove Foundation. The couple founded the charity in 2010 after their daughter Linda died while undertaking development work in Afghanistan. The foundation supports women and children in the region through education, health improvements, and income opportunities. Lorna Norgrove said: «I feel that it's not just an award for us, it's an award for everybody who's helped us over the years.» John Norgrove emphasized the recognition's impact: «An accolade like this really helps publicise the work that we're doing because women and children in Afghanistan are suffering so terribly at the moment.»
Earlier on Wednesday, the Princess Royal joined faith leaders and political figures at St Giles Cathedral for a ceremony focused on reconciliation. Chief Imam Sayed Razawi spoke of «our collective commitment to reconciliation, safeguarding our communities, and nurturing a society rooted in respect, stewardship and hope.» Most Reverend Mark Strange described the gathering as significant amid global tensions: «All around us powerful people are trying to sow division amongst nations and faiths, the world feels a bit less secure every day. Yet here in this small corner of the world the faith communities are willing to come together in friendship and to stand together in prayer.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
