Queen's award for clothing firm which sells brands sported by young royals

A children's clothing company that sells brands spotted on the young royals is among winners of The Queen's Awards for Enterprise.

The Prince of Wales hosted a reception for winners of the prestigious business award - now in its 52nd year - at Buckingham Palace.

Charles was joined by the Duke of Kent at the event where a total of 230 businesses from across the UK were recognised.

Childrensalon, which sells designer clothes online for newborns up to 16-year-olds, was one of the winners represented at the event on Thursday night.

Sorcha Harriman-Smith, a director at the company, said the employees are delighted about the award.

She added: "They're just so chuffed for their hard work to be recognised on such a grand scale. I think so many of the team are just in it for the love and they really display that day to day."

Childrensalon, based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, was founded in 1952 by Sorcha's grandmother, who made clothes for her own children which were admired so much they led to commissions from celebrities and royals.

The company sells clothes from designers including Burberry, Dior and Gucci, and also brands believed to be worn by the young royals of today including a shoe brand called early days.

"They have been spotted in brands that we stock," Ms Harriman-Smith said.

Another winner was James Vaughan, 31, from Ndemic Creations, who developed the game Plague Inc.

The former city worker said his digital game took £2,500 to make and made that money back within 10 minutes of launching.

Mr Vaughan, from Bristol, said his game has 100 million players.

"We're been very lucky," he said, adding that the game has been at the top of the charts constantly for six years.

Mr Vaughan said his game "educates people by accident" and is played by a range of people from grandmothers in Sweden to 10-year-olds to people fighting ebola on the frontline.

Businesses were recognised for their contribution in four categories - international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity.

Winners include businesses leading the way in a range of industries, from agricultural technology and sustainable goods production, to innovative software and healthcare.

The winners are able to use the Queen's Awards emblem for the next five years.