Palace reception for England heroes

England's Ashes heroes will enjoy a Buckingham Palace reception on February 9

England's cricketing heroes will meet the Queen at a special Palace reception in honour of their Ashes triumph on February 9, it has been announced.

Coach Duncan Fletcher, captain Michael Vaughan and the rest of the team which beat Australia last summer in the npower Test series have been invited to attend the royal celebration three days before they fly out for the tour of India.

England Women's team will also be at the reception

They will collect their New Year's Honours before mingling with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery reception. The squad will pose for a team photo with the Queen in the State Dining Room.

The entire men’s team is receiving awards in recognition of their historic victory over the Australians last summer, with an OBE for Vaughan and MBEs for the other players.

MBEs will be awarded to Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Geraint Jones, Simon Jones, Pietersen, Andrew Strauss and Marcus Trescothick at the investiture beforehand. Fletcher and chairman of selectors David Graveney are getting OBEs.

England's women's team will also be at the reception following their own Ashes triumph in August. Clare Connor, who led the women cricketers to their first Ashes victory over Australia since 1963, is set to collect an OBE.