Emmeline Pankhurst’s great-granddaughter said her ancestor would be “delighted” and “amused” that she had been honoured with a CBE for campaigning on gender equality.

Dr Helen Pankhurst, who is descended from the famous suffragette, was handed the honour by the Queen at Windsor Castle on Friday.

She said: “I think the fact that I am being given an honour on gender equality issues and people are still talking about the need to continue to address gender equality… I think she would be amused, but obviously delighted.”

The activist said that while it is important to “celebrate success” on the progress of gender issues, there is still “so much that needs to be done”.

She said: “In every single area we are not there yet, but the direction of travel and the fact that we all know we are on a journey is really positive.”

Dr Pankhurst said that companies need to engage better with gender issues, calling it “disgraceful” that two-thirds of companies are yet to publish their pay gaps with around a fortnight to go until the deadline.

Dr Pankhurst is honoured by the Queen
Dr Pankhurst receives the honour at Windsor Castle (Jonathan Brady/PA)

She said: “I think it really is disgraceful.

“I think we need to continue to push so it is not just companies that have 250 people and above that have to report. Smaller companies don’t need to report, and I think a lot of the inequality can be at the smaller companies as well.”

She added that there was also some “hiding of the data” in cases such as partners of law firms not having to declare all their income.

Dr Pankhurst, who is also a writer and academic, said that a key area of progress on gender issues is that “there are so many men who are happy to call themselves feminists that are more involved in bringing up their children and caring for their parents”.

The University of Suffolk installed Dr Pankhurst as its first chancellor in December.

The campaigner, who was joined at the ceremony by her children and a friend, added: “All of us, we are just absolutely delighted.”

Also honoured at the ceremony were Greggs chief executive Roger Whiteside and Microsoft UK CEO Cindy Rose, who both received OBEs.