"Take my unfinished life and make it complete"

Dame Shirley Bassey says receiving her latest honour from King Charles III made her more nervous than singing for him.

The 87-year-old said she "forgot to curtsy" as she was made a Companion of Honour ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The exclusive title is awarded for "conspicuous national importance" service and is limited to 65 people.

"I think it's more nerve-racking to receive the award from him than to sing in front of him," Dame Shirley said.

"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".

Asked what it was like to be dubbed an icon, she said: 

"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.

"I've had 70 years of glamorous moments. 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.

"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," she said at the time.

"Every step of my career has been about taking that chance, believing in myself and making that leap".

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