Shirley Bassey picks up honour with daughter admitting she was nervous to meet King

Shirley Bassey's Timeless Style Shines At Honours Event

The singer shared that she was extremely anxious and ended up forgetting to bow to the King. Instead, she accidentally reached out and took his hands.

It's difficult to believe that Dame Shirley Bassey, who has performed at prestigious venues, sang for important people, and recorded iconic theme songs, could be even more famous after being in the spotlight for seventy years.

However, the Welsh singer has mentioned feeling anxious before receiving the honor of being named a Companion of Honour by the King for her contributions to music. This prestigious title is only given to a select group of 65 esteemed individuals, such as Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling, and more recently, Gordon Brown.

Her comment was, "I feel more anxious about accepting the award from him than performing in front of him. Singing is something I've been doing since I was young, so it feels familiar. Accepting an award from him is a new and different experience."

"I didn't remember to curtsy, but I quickly took his hands instead. It was just instinctual."

An energetic Bassey, looking much younger than her 87 years in a stunning Isabell Kristensen gown, was all smiles as she joined her daughter Sharon, 69, grandson Sebastian, and great-granddaughter Sofia at the event held at Windsor Castle.

Bassey shared her secrets to staying young-looking. She focuses on eating well and regularly works out at the gym in Monaco. A personal trainer visits her three times a week, but she tries to make it to the gym at least twice on her own. She notices a difference in how she feels when she misses a workout. This was revealed in a recent interview from 2020.

I don't follow any specific diet plan. I simply keep an eye on what I eat. On weekends, I treat myself to indulgent foods like ice cream and caviar smothered in cream. I also make sure to pamper myself with regular facials and massages. All of this self-care is paying off and I believe it's worth every penny.

The happy expressions seen in Windsor on Tuesday didn't show the difficult family life Shirley Bassey has faced since she was born in extreme poverty, in the Tiger Bay neighborhood of Cardiff in 1937. Despite these hardships, she has an incredible voice.

Bassey became pregnant with Sharon during the Hot from Harlem show tour, at the young age of 16, and welcomed her daughter in September 1954. Because of the social norms at the time, she had to stop her touring and return to Cardiff, where she worked as a waitress. Bassey entrusted her daughter to her sister, Ella, who raised Sharon as her own until she was nine years old.

She has never revealed the name of Sharon's father to the public, as she becomes defensive when it is brought up. We only know that he was Jewish and married with two children of his own when they had a relationship. These facts came to light in 1998 when Sharon was in her mid-40s, and Bassey was accused of anti-Semitism by a former personal assistant.

Sharon and her little sister, Samantha, were later taken in by Bassey's former spouse, Sergio Novak, who worked as the assistant manager at the Excelsior Hotel in Venice. Along with them, the couple also welcomed Mark, Bassey's grand-nephew, into their family.

Samantha's father remains unidentified, but there have been suggestions that she may be the result of a relationship between Bassey and the acclaimed actor Peter Finch, who has won both Bafta and Oscar awards.

Samantha, who was born nine years after Sharon, was discovered deceased in the River Avon close to the Clifton suspension bridge in 1985 at the young age of 21. Despite Samantha facing challenges with alcohol and mental health, authorities believed her passing was accidental, and Bassey has consistently stated it was not a suicide. In 2010, the Avon and Somerset Police reopened investigations into the matter, but ultimately determined there was "no proof of any criminal activity being a factor".

Bassey was unable to speak for six months after her daughter's sudden death deeply affected her.