Princess Anne awarded a "Hillwalking Hijabi" with an MBE today for championing diversity.
The Princess Royal presented honours to a diverse array of recipients at an investiture ceremony held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Among those recognised was Zahrah Mahmood, a social media influencer widely known as the Hillwalking Hijabi, who received an MBE for her voluntary work championing diversity in outdoor pursuits.
The 35-year-old Glaswegian, who serves as the recently appointed president of Ramblers Scotland, was honoured for "exemplifying the spirit of innovation and commitment to social change".
Princess Anne presents MBE to ‘Hillwalking Hijabi’ for diversity activism
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Speaking after the ceremony, the mother of two described the experience as "surreal", adding that it had not yet fully registered.
She explained that the recognition helps bring attention to efforts aimed at making the outdoors more accessible to people from all backgrounds.
"It gives it more credibility, not just on the people receiving the honour, but also the work behind it and the reasons why, which I think is really important," she said.
Ms Mahmood emphasised that the outdoors should be welcoming to everyone regardless of their cultural, religious or financial circumstances: “(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.”
Zahrah Mahmood is a social media influencer widely known as the Hillwalking Hijabi
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Her family and friends were "all very proud", though celebrations would need to wait as she had to return home to her two children.
Scottish historian and author Alistair Moffat was also made an MBE for his contributions to literature and culture.
Mr Moffat, who established the Borders Book Festival in 2004, expressed his delight at being recognised at such a historically significant venue.
The 75-year-old author, who has penned more than 40 books exploring Scottish history, compared receiving the honour to being presented with "a big bunch of flowers".
"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," he said.
Her family and friends were 'all very proud', though celebrations would need to wait as she had to return home to her two children
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He described the day as thoroughly enjoyable and stressed that the MBE would not mark the conclusion of his endeavours.
"I don't want to see this as the end of anything," he explained, noting he is currently working on a new book and preparing for another festival in Melrose this June.
John and Lorna Norgrove, a couple from the Isle of Lewis, received OBEs for their charitable efforts supporting women and children both in Afghanistan and Scotland through the foundation they established in memory of their late daughter.
The Norgroves established the Linda Norgrove Foundation in 2010 following the death of their daughter, who lost her life while carrying out development work in Afghanistan.
Ms Mahmood emphasised that the outdoors should be welcoming to everyone regardless of their cultural, religious or financial circumstances
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The charity focuses on supporting Afghan women and children through educational programmes, healthcare initiatives and income generation for women.
Mrs Norgrove said the couple felt "very honoured" but viewed the recognition as belonging to everyone who had contributed to the foundation's work over the years.
"We've had lots of volunteers. We've got excellent people working for the foundation at the moment, and it's just for everybody," she said.
Mr Norgrove highlighted how the recognition would help raise awareness of their cause.
"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," he said.
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