KENT wicketkeeper Geraint Jones could be tempted to stamp his bat with the Royal Warrant of approval after the Queen and Prince Philip both admitted to watching his Ashes exploits last summer.

The 29-year-old cricketer was among the England team that attended Buckingham Palace to receive their awards from the New Year’s Honours List.

Jones, who was made an MBE, said: "I went up to receive my medal with Freddy Flintoff, Ashley Giles and Matthew Hoggard and the Queen chatted to us as a group during the presentation.

"She said the Ashes series had caused her real anxieties and there were times she couldn’t bear to watch.

"Then, at the reception afterwards, I chatted to the Queen and Prince Philip, who said they were trying to watch the end of the Edgbaston Test together.

"By the sound of it the tension all got a bit much for them, so Prince Phillip went upstairs to watch the finish.

"But I think the Queen, along with a lot of other people, couldn’t bear to watch any longer and probably missed my catch that won the match."

Though Jones is understandably proud to receive the honour and delighted with his achievements, he was also by touched by the work of other honours recipients.

He added: "It was all a bit humbling really.

"I met up with Ray Jarvis, a retired teacher from the Simon Langton Boys’ School in Canterbury, who was made an MBE for 37 years of service.

"He introduced himself to me and we chatted a little, which made me think he’d put almost four decades into one school and must have influenced thousands of children in that time through his work.

"I’ve only been playing Test cricket a couple of years, but I guess what the England team achieved last summer also touched a lot of people’s lives and did a lot for cricket in the country."