CNN Pressroom - For her services to journalism, Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international correspondent, today was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.

The award was announced earlier this year on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II official birthday, and Amanpour was one of a select number of public and private British citizens to be honored with this prestigious award. Established in June 1917 by King George V, the CBE is one of five medals that make up the “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire,” which recognizes outstanding contributions in the service of the country and the honoree’s profession.

Amanpour is among a small number of journalists to have been awarded a CBE. Her investiture today by Queen Elizabeth II took place in Buckingham Palace, where Amanpour was accompanied by her parents, husband and son.

“I am incredibly thrilled and very proud,” Amanpour said. “In the current climate, with so much weight put to sensationalism and tabloidism, for me personally this is a really nice moment because actual serious journalism is being recognized.”

“This is a wonderful honor for Christiane and a tribute to her outstanding dedication to the profession of journalism,” said Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide. “Everyone at CNN is extremely proud of the work she does and very excited for her on this important day.”

Amanpour, born of British/Iranian parentage, has reported on most crises from the world’s many news hotspots, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans.

Her assignments have ranged from exclusive interviews with world leaders to reporting on the human consequences of natural disasters or covering events from the heart of war zones. She has received wide acclaim and numerous awards for her work, particularly for her extensive coverage of conflicts in the Balkans, Africa and the Middle East. Amanpour’s recent work has focused on a series of highly acclaimed long-form programs including two award-winning documentaries: Where Have All The Parents Gone?, a powerful film examining the plight of the more than one million children orphaned to AIDS in Kenya, and In the Footsteps of Bin Laden, a two-hour exploration of the life of the world’s most-wanted terrorist. Most recently, she reported for CNN’s three-part documentary God’s Warriors.

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