Dame Shirley Bassey, 87, admits she ‘forgot to curtsy’ after feeling overcome with nerves during her investiture with King Charles

Dame Shirley Bassey was so nervous when receiving an honour from King Charles that she “forgot to curtsy”.

The 87-year-old singer was named a Companion of Honour by the monarch at Windsor Castle on Tuesday and admitted she was more scared of accepting the accolade, which has previously been awarded to the likes of Sir David Attenborough and JK Rowling, than singing for the royal family.

She said: ‘I think it’s more nerve-racking to receive the award from him than to sing in front of him. I mean, it’s something new, different, whereas I’ve been singing since I was a child.

“I forgot to bow, but that’s why I grabbed her hands because I forgot to bow. Instinctively.”

The Diamonds Are Forever singer, who was accompanied at the ceremony by her daughter Sharon, grandson Sebastian and great-granddaughter Sofia, was aware that she “shouldn’t” have broken protocol.

She said: ‘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, but I grabbed both of his hands and said, ‘I wish you all the best.'”

Shirley believes the most glamorous moment of her life was the first time she sang for the late Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Variety Performance.

She said: “I’ve had 70 years of glamorous moments. I think the first time I sang for the Queen was at the Royal Variety show, my first ever. And then I did a lot more afterwards and I did it very nonchalantly.”

Dame Shirley, who was made a dame in 1999, previously admitted she had felt “truly honoured” to be given the title of Companion of Honour.

She said: “Receiving the Order of the Companions of Honour is one of the most wonderful feelings. Music has been a constant companion in my life.

‘As a child growing up in Tiger Bay, I dreamed of travelling the world and never imagined that one day my voice would take me to where I am now.

“It has been a privilege to entertain audiences for over 70 years. My heart is filled with emotion and I am truly honored.”

Asked how it feels to be dubbed an icon, she said: “It can be very nice and it can be very isolating and annoying, especially if you’re in a restaurant and people come and sit at your table uninvited.”

Dame Shirley was also asked if she had a favourite diva and initially thought of saying Ella Fitzgerald, but admitted: “She wasn’t a diva, she was very nice. She was very down to earth, very comfortable, there was nothing diva about her.”

Instead, he concluded that Madonna had taken the crown from him.

But Dame Shirley also has expensive tastes, as her preferred room service order is “pink champagne and caviar.”

“That would be my last meal,” he joked.

And just in case anyone had any doubts about her taste, when asked what she would be if she were an accessory, she replied simply: “A diamond.”