A man who overcame bullying has told of how a meeting with the Queen inspired him to go on to lead a charity.

Alex Holmes received an award from Her Majesty in 2017 for an anti-bullying project he set up and then took to schools across the UK and abroad.

He said the encounter with the Queen gave him the “confidence” and “enthusiasm” to expand his work.

He also told BBC London she “immediately made me feel at ease” with her humour, generosity and empathy.

Mr Holmes’ meeting with the Queen came after he was invited on to her Young Leaders programme, which recognised “exceptional” young people with leadership roles in their communities.

“It gave me the confidence, it improved my self-capability and it gave me enthusiasm as well, I think,” he said of the encounter.