Rita Ora has admitted it was a “very emotional day” when she was named honorary ambassador of the Republic Of Kosovo.
President Atifete Jahjaga presented the I Will Never Let You Down singer with the honour on 10 July at the Kosovo embassy in London and described the pop star as the country’s “most successful artist”.
The 24-year-old was born in Kosovo but moved to Britain with her parents when she was a year old.
Speaking to Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy after the ceremony, Ora explained: “We weren’t trying to smuggle into the country, it wasn’t that at all. But yes, we did not have British citizenship at the time, we do now.
“It was a very hard time. we left because my father didn’t want to attend the army, he chose to bring up his children instead. It was something that my mother and father chose for us.
“As parents – I am not one – but I can imagine you would do anything for your children so they did just that, and I’m very very grateful.”
Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair, who was in office at the time Kosovo was liberated, was in attendance as Ora received the honour.
Recalling the memorable day, she explained: “It was a very emotional day for me because we’ve been waiting as a nation for this for such a long time. So I think to hear it in real life it just really hit a nerve.”
Having grown up in the UK for 23 years, the chart-topper stated she would “never going to turn [her] back on Britain”, continuing: “It’s given me the biggest opportunities – I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Britain. But if I can [make] acknowledgement to my nation and to Kosovo I will do that.”
