An Indian-origin structural engineer who helped build Europe’s tallest building, the Shard in London, has been invited to Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II. Roma Agrawal, 29, will join a group of other female engineers at a reception being hosted by the 89-year-old monarch to encourage more women to take up the profession. The palace has also released a photograph of the then Princess Elizabeth as a driver and mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II.

The Queen’s support comes as a report published this week is expected to reveal that Britain lags behind other nations in the status it gives to the profession. Only 6 per cent of registered UK engineers and technicians are women, the lowest number in Europe; just 15 per cent of UK engineering students are female.

Try It…

What are the countries of the United Kingdom?