Grace Millane's mother appointed OBE for charity work

Grace was backpacking in New Zealand when she was murdered in December 2018

The mother of a murdered backpacker said it was a "great honour" after she was appointed an OBE for the charity she created in her daughter's memory.

Grace Millane, from Wickford, Essex, was killed in New Zealand in 2018.

After her death, her mother Gillian and cousin Hannah O'Callaghan founded Love Grace, which helps domestic abuse victims.

Ms Millane said receiving the honour was a "truly a special day and one that will last forever".

She was appointed Order of the British Empire for services to charitable fundraising and tackling violence against women

As part of the charity initiative Love Grace, they collect donated handbags and fill them with toiletries for domestic abuse victims, inspired by Grace's love of handbags.

So far, they have filled 15,600 bags for women in the UK and across the world.

"It's a simple idea but it has really taken off. We were just doing it for our grief so that Grace would never just be a number," Ms Millane said.

"They get this bag, they are not expecting it and they have gone through hell. We get hundreds of letters from people who have received the bags, it's heartbreaking."

Gillian (right) says her daughter Grace (left), who loved to travel, was her best friend

Ms Millane has also campaigned against the rough sex defence with the charity We Can't Consent To This, and has helped to change the law in England and Wales.

Gillian raised more than £30,000 climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in memory of her daughter and husband

She also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raising £33,000 for the White Ribbon charity, which aims to end male violence against women.

She later received a thank you card from the charity, saying the money had been used to fund education programmes in 65 schools in the Hull area.

Gillian Milane was surrounded by her family when she received the award

"It's always bittersweet, but it was a great honour to receive my OBE from Prince William," she added.

"It was a privilege to share this occasion with my two sons, granddaughter and my brother-in-law ,which meant the world to me."

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