Grammy Award winner Sade and veteran British actress Miriam Margoyles collected their OBEs on Wednesday for services to music and to drama respectively.
In one of his first official duties since the death of the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales presented the pair with their honours at a ceremony in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace.
After collecting the award, 43-year-old Sade – whose real name is Helen Folasade Adu – took a leaf out of Oscar-winner Halle Berry’s book, saying it was “a great gesture to me and all black women in England”.
Born in Nigeria, Sade moved to England at the age of four and first came to prominence in the 1980s when her sultry jazz-tinged vocals made her one of pop’s biggest stars. Since making a comeback in 2000, she has sold more than 30 million records worldwide.
Miriam, who is probably best known for her work in the Blackadder series, found herself in a speechless fluster as she rose to collect her OBE from Prince Charles. “I got confused and curtsied twice,” said the 60-year-old actress.
“I am so used to appearing in public but this was somehow different. I did it in the wrong place and had to do it again. It was a bit embarrassing and I wasn’t sure what to say but the Prince was so sweet and full of warmth. He said he really liked what I do.”
Miriam, who will be appearing in Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets when it comes out later this year, added: “He was very interested in Harry Potter. I hope he’ll come and see it.”
Sade and Miriam were among 110 people receiving honours at the Palace, including actress and singer Jane Birkin.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Nigerian-born Sade first came to prominence in the 1980s when her sultry jazz-tinged vocal style made her one of pop's biggest stars. Her biggest hit to date was the song Smooth Operator
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Oxford-born Miriam Margoyles is probably best known for her work in the Blackadder series. She also appeared in Martin Scorcese's adaptation of The Age Of Innoncence and has a part in the upcoming Harry Potter film
