DANNY Alexander has received a knighthood from Prince Charles.

The former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, who lost his Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey seat to the SNP in the 2015 General Election, received the honour at Buckingham Palace.

Alexander was one of the four Liberal Democrats who drew up the Coalition Government agreement in 2010.

The 43-year-old was knighted for his public and political services. He was accompanied by his wife Rebecca and daughters Isabel, eight, and Isla, five.

He said: "It was a great honour and a wonderful ceremony and it's all rather humbling.

"It was something I didn't expect but it is a real honour to have the recognition for the work I did in the Coalition Government - turning the economy around and getting the country on the right track."

The former MP refused to comment on the current government. However, he said he is now working with the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign and Chance To Shine, a charity promoting cricket in state schools.

Meanwhile, Facebook's most powerful female executive in the UK used the opportunity of receiving a CBE to plan a future social media collaboration with the Prince of Wales.

As Charles awarded Nicola Mendelsohn her medal at Buckingham Palace, the pair discussed launching a Facebook campaign on global warming and the environment.

The co-chair of the Creative Industries Council and vice-president of Facebook for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: "He said he was very happy to give me the honour as we have worked together before.

"He was asking all about Facebook and about getting together to do more work. He is very passionate about these issues."

Mendelsohn, 40, who was accompanied by her husband and four children to be honoured for services to the creative industries, is a well-known spokeswoman for working mothers and businesswomen.

She said: "It was so amazing when I turned round after receiving my medal and saw my family's faces.

"I am very blessed to do the job I do.

"I have one daughter and three sons and I want to make sure my daughter and all the other young women in the world have all the same opportunities my sons will have.

"My parents always told me dream big and believe in yourself."