ITV Cymru Wales weather presenter Ruth Dodsworth has received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) from the King for services to survivors of domestic abuse.
King Charles presented her with the honour at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, 9 December.
Speaking after being awarded the honour in the King’s Birthday Honours list, Ruth said: “It feels all a bit surreal and completely unbelievable, and I’m over the moon. It’s just the biggest honour I think I have ever had in my entire life.
“This is not just for me this is for my family, my friends and everybody who has been on this very strange journey that I’ve been on, everybody who has supported me.
“And this is for everybody who is going on journeys of their own as well because it’s not easy and domestic abuse is out there and it’s everywhere.
“That’s why this honour is also so important because it allows me to keep that conversation going. I’m going to use it wisely and then hopefully one day we won’t have to talk about domestic abuse because it won’t be an issue anymore.
“But until that point, this honour is for everybody who has been affected by domestic abuse and I’m just so proud.”
The broadcaster endured almost a decade of coercive control from her ex-husband, who was jailed in 2021 for three years for stalking and coercive control.
Ruth has since become a vocal campaigner for domestic abuse survivors, working closely with several domestic abuse charities to encourage other survivors to come forward.
