Queen Elizabeth honoured three key figures in the search for an agreed settlement in Northern Ireland at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace yesterday.
Former US Senator Mr George Mitchell, who chaired the Northern Ireland talks ahead of the Belfast Agreement last year, Gen John de Chastelain, head of the International Commission on Decommissioning, and Mr Harri Holkeri, the former prime minister of Finland who co-chaired last year's Stormont talks, received awards announced in the New Year's Honours List.
Mr Mitchell was invested with the Insignia of a GBE, the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. Gen de Chastelain was invested with the Insignia of a Companion of Honour and Mr Holkeri received a KBE.