Singing legend, Shirley Bassey revealed she accidentally broke royal protocol when it came to meeting King Charles III at a recent award ceremony.
Dame Shirley was among the honoured guests to receive an award on Tuesday at Windsor Castle.
The Goldfinger singer received a Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours list for her services to music, after already becoming a dame when included in the 1999 honours list.
Collecting this award this week she revealed that she forgot to curtsy to the King and then reached out to ‘grab’ him instead.
‘I think it’s more nerve-racking to receive the award from him than to sing in front of him. I mean, it’s new, different, whereas singing I’ve been doing since I was a child,’ she told reporters.
‘I forgot to curtsy, but that’s why I grabbed his hands because I forgot to curtsy. Instinctive.’
The Welsh singer revealed that she also complimented the King during this interaction.
‘I asked 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”.’
This isn’t the first time that the Big Spender singer has met members of the Royal Family. Dame Shirley has met the late Queen Elizabeth II on a few occasions and met King Charles when he was the Prince of Wales.
‘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 blase about it,’ she told reporters on Tuesday.
Speaking about the honour, she received on Tuesday, the singer said she was ‘truly humbled’ that her contribution to music for the last seven decades has been recognised.
‘Receiving the Order of the Companions of Honour is just one of the most wonderful feelings. Music has been a constant companion in my life.
‘As a little girl growing up in Tiger Bay, I would dream of travelling the world and never imagined that one day my voice would take me to where I am now.
‘Entertaining audiences for over 70 years has been a privilege. My heart is full of emotion and I am truly humbled.’
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