'I was lost for words in front of Princess Anne - but her simple message calmed me'

Legendary actor Dame Joanna Lumley on the moment she was officially awarded her Damehood, confessing that she battled to keep her emotions in check.

While she has reached the pinnacle of her career over the decades with roles in enormously popular films and TV programmes, it was her portrayal of Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous that catapulted her to global stardom.

Yet, despite being among some of the most glittering casts and rubbing shoulders with entertainment's elite throughout the years, it was when confronted with meeting royalty that she started to "choke up".

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Told in December 2021 that she would be awarded a Damehood in the 2022 New Year’s Honours, during a recent conversation with Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, she confessed that she burst into tears after finding out the news.

Nevertheless, it was when the time arrived to visit Buckingham Palace and join the other distinguished recipients of the accolade that she disclosed she began to "choke up".

Reminiscing about the nerve-wracking occasion, she remembered: "It was only a small ceremony, hardly any people, 24 people there. So it wasn't like the big ones where they have the whole ballroom there and bands playing and everything — this was really quiet."

Recalling the unforgettable moment she met the Princess Royal, she said: "There was the Princess Royal smiling so sweetly and giving such a grin and I choked up and I couldn't say a word and I said to her, 'I can't speak,' and she whispered, 'Never mind, never mind.'"

Dame Joanna then shared that upon leaving the room, she was overcome with emotion and "howled" alongside her husband Stevie amid the grandeur of the palace setting.

The occasion marked the second time the esteemed actor was recognised by the Royal Family for her contributions to the arts.

Her first royal commendation came in 1995 when she was appointed an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Beyond her royal honours, Dame Joanna has been celebrated for her exceptional talent, securing multiple awards including two BAFTA TV Awards for her iconic portrayal of Patsy Stone in the hit BBC series Absolutely Fabulous.

Fans can look forward to seeing Dame Joanna grace their televisions once more, as she is slated to appear with Tobias Menzies in the BBC’s festive adaptation of E. F. Benson’s The Room in the Tower this Christmas.