Darts world champion Deta Hedman collected her OBE from the Princess Royal at St James’s Palace yesterday, and the 66-year-old could not contain her joy.
The Essex-based player, affectionately known as the Caribbean Queen, described herself as feeling “marvellous” and “overwhelmed” after the ceremony.
“I am still overwhelmed. After all this time since I knew about it, the honour, it still has not sunk in,” she said.
The Witham resident was recognised for her services to darts and charity following a remarkable career spanning five decades.
Darts world champion Deta Hedman collected her OBE from the Princess Royal at St James’s Palace yesterday, and the 66-year-old could not contain her joy.
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PA
Her world title triumph came in December when she beat top seed Lerena Rietbergen 4-1 to claim the 2025 WDF Women’s World Championship crown.
It was a victory that meant everything to Hedman, who had endured heartbreak in four previous finals over 15 years before finally lifting the trophy.
“I have been trying for 15 years and four finals and finally won the world championship,” she said.
Her world title triumph came in December when she beat top seed Lerena Rietbergen 4-1 to claim the 2025 WDF Women’s World Championship crown.
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PA
Meeting the Princess Royal clearly added to the special occasion, with Hedman saying: “I am absolutely over the moon, especially to have met one of the royals who is a sportswoman herself.”
Hedman was born in St Thomas, Jamaica, and later moved to St Mary before relocating to the UK 53 years ago.
Beyond her achievements on the oche, she’s earned the nickname “The Heart of Darts” from the World Darts Federation for her charity work supporting disabled children.
She’s also served as a long-term ambassador for England’s youth teams.
Her trophy cabinet is impressive – she claimed her first WDF ranking title at the 1989 Finnish Open and has won the World Masters twice, in 1994 and 2013.
She’s also triumphed in both the Europe Cup and World Cup Singles.
