Lisa Riley thought MBE appointment was a prank
Lisa Riley has been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to drama and charity.
Lisa Riley thought she was being pranked after learning about her MBE appointment.
The 49-year-old actress was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to drama and charity in King Charles' Birthday Honours List.
On Monday's (15.06.26) episode of ITV's Loose Women, Lisa told host Ruth Langsford, 66, and panellists Sue Cleaver, 62, and Brenda Edwards, 57, that she was told the news in "late February" following a "four-day weekend away" with her fiance, musician Al Benkovic.
The Emmerdale legend added: "I opened the post box, and there was a very posh envelope - and when I say posh, I mean posh - and it had my name on it, and it said 'From the King'.
"I was like, 'No, come on, this is an absolute wind-up.' I thought I was being pranked.
"And lo and behold, I opened it, and it said, 'For drama and for charity.'"
Lisa - who has played Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap from 1995 until 2001, and then from 2019 onwards - is grateful to those who have supported her throughout her career.
She continued: "I'm very blessed I've been doing a job I love, and in a world where I've been employed - touch wood - all my life, and I'm so grateful for that, and to be honoured."
Lisa - who has worked as a professional actress since the age of 14 - was overwhelmed by all of the congratulatory messages she received.
The ex-You've Been Framed! host went on: "And also for people that have got in touch with me, that's been the craziest thing this weekend. I've had messages from people, you know, directors that I work with when I was like 21, and they're just genuinely over the moon.
"Like at work, we have a Dingle WhatsApp group, and every single one of the Dingles were like, 'Go on, girl, you're doing it for the family.' And, of course, I'm the first person ever at Emmerdale to have got anything like this.
"So I'm feeling a bit royal!"
The King's Birthday Honours list was announced on June 12, and Lisa's investiture ceremony will take place "seven months" from then.
She added: "You don't know whether you're going to get Windsor [Castle] or Buckingham Palace."
Lisa is keeping her "fingers crossed" that she will be presented with her MBE by William, Prince of Wales.
And in the meantime, she is making plans for her big day, which her family will also attend.
Lisa shared: "The frock's going to be amazing. I'm going to go colour."
