Compliments from the King

Charles accepted Shirley Bassey into his exclusive Order of Merit

British singer Shirley Bassey has been honored at Windsor Castle by King Charles III (75) for her services to music. She was inducted into the Order of the Companions of Honor, an exclusive circle of a maximum of 65 members.

She was quite nervous, the 87-year-old admitted in an interview with the British news agency PA after the ceremony. She even forgot to curtsy.

Royal honor for Bassey
Born in the Welsh capital Cardiff to an English mother and a Nigerian father, Bassey was made a Dame at the turn of the millennium - the equivalent of a knighthood for men.

Shirley Bassey revealed that she was terribly excited at the ceremony.(Bild: APA/Andrew Matthews/pool photo via AP)

She was made a Companion of Honor earlier this year, with the presentation of such royal decorations usually taking place a few months after the announcement.

Compliments from Charles
Charles paid her a compliment when he presented her with the order, Bassey said. "You look wonderful," the monarch had said to her, she enthused. Although it was against etiquette, she then took his hands and told him: "I wish you all the best".

Bassey began her career in the 1950s. Internationally, she is best known for the theme songs to the James Bond films "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds Are Forever" (German title: "Diamantenfieber") and "Moonraker". She also enjoyed success with "Big Spender", "Something" and "For All We Know".