At Windsor Castle, Dame Shirley Bassey was awarded the Companion of Honour by King Charles. However, the iconic singer confessed to a Royal faux pas during the ceremony.
The Welsh vocal powerhouse confessed that being presented with the honour by Charles was more nerve-wracking than performing for royalty. And, in Tuesday's (July 9) ceremony, the 87 year old grabbed the monarch's hand while receiving her award and cheekily admitted she "forgot to curtsy".
The singer received the Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours list, recognising her incredible contributions to music. This was her first interaction with Charles as King, the singer who has lent her voice to three James Bond themes revealed.
"I think it's more nerve-racking to receive the award from him than to sing in front of him," she admitted. "I mean, it's new, different, whereas singing I've been doing since I was a child. I forgot to curtsy, but that's why I grabbed his hands because I forgot to curtsy. Instinctive".
She joked that the King had praised her outfit, a stunning black and white sparkly number by Isabell Kristensen, reports the Express.
The timelessly glamourous star put on a youthful display, elongating her legs with some short heels and sporting her dark tresses in a short style. Her look was completed by a pink lip, smokey eye and a light blush across her cheeks.
She stated: "I asked him how he was, and he said he was fine and said: 'You look wonderful'. He wished me all the best and then I grabbed him I know I shouldn't have done that. But I grabbed both his hands and said: 'I wish you well'."
Dame Shirley Bassey, when asked about being labelled an "icon", shared: "It can be very nice, and it can be very isolating and a nuisance especially if you're in a restaurant and people come and sit at your table uninvited."
The Welsh songstress also opened up about her most dazzling career highlight, recalling the first time she performed for the late Queen during the Royal Variety Performance.
"I've had 70 years of glamorous moments," Dame Shirley reflected. She reminisced about her initial Royal Variety appearance: "I think the first time I sang for the Queen at the Royal Variety - my very first show. And then I did quite a few after and was very blasé about it."
Previously, the Cardiff-born diva admitted to feeling "humbled" and overwhelmed with emotion upon the announcement that she would be honoured with a Dmehood in the New Year Honours list. At the investiture ceremony, she was accompanied by her loving family: daughter Sharon, grandson Sebastian, and his little girl Sofia.
