Humphries is best known as his alter egos Dame Edna and Australian " cultural attache" Sir Les Patterson.

He learned of his CBE after coming off stage in Brisbane, Australia, where he is performing his one-man show.

"I'm deeply honoured. At last I can address Sir Les Patterson and Dame Edna Everage on an improved footing," he said.

Dame Edna was the queen of Saturday night TV in the 1980s with her catchphrase: "Hello, possums!"

She poked fun at celebrity guests on An Audience With Dame Edna Everage and The Dame Edna Experience.

The "housewife superstar" returned to British screens in March with a new ITV1 show, The Dame Edna Treatment.

This isn't Dame Edna's first trip to Buckingham Palace. In 2002, she appeared at a pop concert to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations and introduced the Queen with the words: "The jubilee girl is here, possums!"

Humphries (63) was born in Melbourne and came to the UK in 1959. He began his showbiz career in the West End, appearing in musicals Sweeney Todd and Lionel Bart's Oliver!

Humphries introduced Dame Edna in his 1976 show Housewife Superstar! at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.