Derby's polar record breaker receives MBE

Captain Preet Chandi crossed Antarctica in just over 70 days - solo and unaided

Captain Preet Chandi MBE
Author: Kat WrightPublished 21st Feb 2023
Last updated 21st Feb 2023

A British Army medical officer from Derby who completed a record-breaking polar expedition is getting her MBE at Windsor Castle.

Captain Preet Chandi, a physiotherapist, dubbed Polar Preet, is one of the 67 people set to collect honours after she was made MBE.

Last month, she broke the world record for the furthest solo, unaided polar expedition, covering 922 miles (1,484km) across Antarctica in 70 days and 16 hours.

During a visit to Landau Forte College in Derby earlier this month, the Princess of Wales praised the 34-year-old as a "huge inspiration to me".

Catherine, Princess of Wales, meeting Captain Preet Chandi

Kate added: "I just think it's incredible, what you've been able to achieve."

Captain Chandi completed a 700-mile (1,127km) ski across Antarctica to the South Pole in 40 days in January last year, becoming the first woman of colour to do so.

And she has previously completed a 156 mile (251 km) ultramarathon in the Sahara desert.

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