Harry Dunn's mum Charlotte Charles appointed MBE

Charlotte Charles said she wished the honour was one she "never had cause to receive"

The mother of motorcyclist Harry Dunn, whose death led to a Transatlantic diplomatic row, has been appointed MBE in the King's Birthday Honours.

Mr Dunn, 19, was killed in August 2019 after US State Department employee Anne Sacoolas hit him with her car while driving on the wrong side of the road near RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire.

Sacoolas, who had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf, left the country, but was later given a suspended jail term.

Charlotte Charles, who is honoured for her outstanding services to road safety, said: "This is an honour I never imagined receiving, and one I wish had never had cause to receive."

Charlotte Charles said she promised her son Harry she would fight for justice following his death

Mr Dunn's death led the family, including Harry's father Tim Dunn, on a three-year campaign for justice, which included a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House during his first term.

Sacoolas left the country 19 days after the crash and appeared by video link at the Old Bailey to plead guilty to causing death by careless driving.

She was sentenced in December 2022 to eight months in prison, suspended for a year.

The case, and campaigning from the family, prompted road safety improvements around US Air Force bases.

It also led the UK and the US to amend an "anomaly" that allowed Sacoolas to leave the country.

Harry Dunn died in August 2019 in a crash outside a US Air Force base in Northamptonshire

Ms Charles said: "From the moment I lost Harry, I knew I had to keep the promise I made to him - to fight for justice, and to make sure his death would lead to change.

"I've never viewed myself as a campaigner. I'm simply a mum trying to do right by her son.

"If Harry's death has meant others now live safer lives, if victims are treated with more compassion, if a few more lives are saved, then I accept this honour for him, and for every person who walked this journey with us."

She said the honour was "on behalf of Harry".

"My love for him has got me through all of the fights that we've had to have to get to where I am today," she added.