I wish my son was here to collect MBE, says mother of cancer victim

Jane Sutton proudly holds the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medal, that was awarded to her son Stephen, with his Grandparents Tony and Ann Reeves, and his brother Chris, after the Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, in central London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday November 11, 2014. See PA story ROYAL Investiture. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Jane Sutton collected the honour at Buckingham Palace today on behalf of her son, who died in May following a four-year battle against bowel cancer.

The 19-year-old raised more than £5 million for charity and became a household name for the way he approached his disease with good humour and stoicism, with his trademark thumbs-up sign a symbol of his positive attitude.

He was told just days before he died that he would be included on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Mrs Sutton said: “It was a very proud moment, but it is a bitter-sweet occasion. I’m feeling so proud to be collecting the award on behalf of Stephen but obviously wish he had been here to collect it himself.

“But it’s just so nice that he knew about this award before he passed away, I’m so pleased about that.”

Mrs Sutton, who was accompanied by her parents and Stephen’s younger brother, Christopher, said the Queen was “very impressed” with the amount of money Stephen had raised and told her she must be very proud.

The investiture ceremony, due to start at 11am, was briefly delayed while guests took part in a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day. The Queen privately observed the two-minute silence before starting the ceremony.