Dame Angela Lansbury's 'Proud Day' With Queen

Angela Lansbury's accomplishments as a stage and screen actress have been recognised by the Queen who has made her a Dame.

The star, who is performing in the West End aged 88, has spoken of her pride after receiving the honour at Windsor Castle.

Dame Angela, who was born in London but left for the US as a child during World War Two, said: "It is a very proud day for me to be recognised by the country of my birth, and to meet the Queen under these circumstances is a rare and lovely occasion."

She joins a select group of acting Dames, including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Penelope Keith.

The veteran actress is known to millions as crime writer and sleuth Jessica Fletcher in the TV series Murder, She Wrote and her career includes countless film roles including appearances in Bedknobs And Broomsticks, The Manchurian Candidate and alongside Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii.

She has been nominated three times for an Academy Award and was presented with an honorary Oscar last year, but she said this honour was completely different.

"One (the Oscar) is for my work in motion pictures and this is for the overall accomplishments of my life as an actress," she said.

"It has afforded me the joy of working in America and also in England a great deal."

Dame Angela was joined by her son, his wife and her niece as she collected the award for her services to drama and charitable work and philanthropy.

She returned to her roots last month when she took to the stage at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End for a production of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit.

It is the first time in almost 40 years that she has been on the London stage, reprising the role which won her a Tony award on Broadway.

Veteran entertainer Nicholas Parsons was also honoured with a CBE for his lifelong work for children's charities, in addition to an OBE he already has for his broadcasting career.

The 90-year-old Just A Minute host said: "It is very nice to be honoured for all the things you do because you enjoy and love them."

He said the Queen had told him his hard work was "greatly admired".

Sculptor Antony Gormley received a knighthood from the Queen.

He said: "I think Britain has a relationship with sculpture as a kind of art that carries the collective imagination in a way that perhaps painting doesn't.

"I take the award in the name of sculpture because I think of it as being an art form that is of and for the public."