The Crown star made a Dame by Prince William at Windsor as she joins other famous faces at the ceremony

THE CROWN star Imelda Staunton got royal approval as she was made a Dame by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle.

The 68-year-old, who earned Bafta TV and Golden Globe nominations for the role in Netflix’s hit drama The Crown, was honoured for her services to drama and charity by Prince William yesterday.

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She is also known for playing the evil Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films, with her other film credits also including Downton Abbey, Paddington and Nanny McPhee.

Asked if it felt surreal to be recognised with her damehood by Charles in the King’s Birthday Honours having played his mother, Dame Imelda said: “It was a huge privilege. That was two years of filming, and I absolutely adored it.

“It was of course devastating when Her Majesty died – we were filming as well, it was tricky.”

Dame Imelda starred as the former monarch in the fifth and sixth series of the royal drama.

She joined Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon, former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder turned pundit Graeme Souness, plus M People lead singer Heather Small as well as X Factor’s Rebecca Ferguson at the gong ceremony. 

Graeme Souness has said fundraising for a charity has allowed people to see “the real me” as he was made a CBE at Windsor Castle.

Souness, who represented his country at three World Cups and won five league titles and three European Cups with the Reds, was honoured for his services to football and charity with a CBE.

Le Bon and Heather Small were both made an MBE.

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