Broadcasting stalwart Jackie Bird has spoken of her profound honour after being formally decorated with an MBE by the Princess Royal at a Windsor Castle ceremony this week.
A Distinguished Career Recognised
The award recognises Bird's three-decade tenure as a principal face of BBC Scotland News and her extensive charitable work across the nation. The 63-year-old journalist, who stepped down from her frontline presenting role on Reporting Scotland in 2019, described the atmosphere at the historic castle as deeply impressive. "I'm not phased by many things," Bird admitted, "but I think being surrounded by so much history and tradition, it's very impressive. You just feel very honoured."
She revealed a moment of humility shared with fellow recipients, thinking, "'gosh why am I here?'" The ceremony, held on Tuesday, was made extra special by the presence of her parents and husband, with plans for a celebratory family meal afterwards.
Shared Passions with Royalty
In conversation with Princess Anne, Bird recounted how the royal humorously queried her journey south, noting she is "usually based in Scotland." Their discussion naturally turned to Bird's role as President of the National Trust for Scotland, a position she has held since 2019. "The Princess Royal has an interest in preserving old churches," Bird explained, "so we were talking about the preservation of old buildings and how absolutely vital it is."
She expressed pride in this shared commitment to heritage, stating it was "good to know that the Princess Royal and I have a shared interest." Bird also emphasised her personal drive to broaden access to history and wildlife, particularly for children, reflecting on her own council house upbringing which wasn't typically associated with visits to castles and stately homes.
Charitable Commitment and Legacy
Beyond broadcasting, Bird's charitable endeavours formed a core part of the honour. She has been a longstanding presenter of BBC Scotland's Children in Need show, a role she described with deep affection. The charity "helps in so many ways," she said, noting it was "a bit mind-boggling" to see children helped years ago now thriving as adults.
Bird praised the organisation for doing "a lot of heavy lifting behind the scenes" and expressed being continually staggered by the public's willingness to help and donate. Her career, which also included bringing in the New Year for countless Scots as host of the BBC's Hogmanay programme, has been defined by this connection to both public service broadcasting and philanthropic causes.
The award of an MBE to Jackie Bird stands as a formal acknowledgement of a lifetime dedicated to informing the Scottish public and supporting vital charitable work across the country.
