ENTERTAINER Danny La Rue has been showered with tributes in his time - including being described by Noel Coward as "the most utterly charming man in the business".

But the Southampton-based female impersonator had his proudest moment yesterday when he collected his OBE insignia from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The 75-year-old star was named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his work with various charities, including raising thousands of pounds for Aids victims.

"I felt 20ft tall when I went in and 30ft tall when I came out," said Danny after meeting the Queen at the Palace investiture.

"I feel absolutely sensational. I spent a long time with the Queen. She thanked me and said my OBE was long overdue. She said 'I would like to thank you for myself and my mother, who adored you'."

Danny, who made Southampton his adopted home 14 years ago, is believed to be the first female impersonator to be awarded an OBE. He initially thought the letter telling him of his honour was a tax demand.

"When I opened it I thought it was John Inman playing a joke," he said.

Born Daniel Patrick Carroll in Cork, Danny came to London with his mother when he was nine.

"Britain sheltered my widowed mother and her children. If I lived for 1,000 years I could never repay what Britain has given me," he said.

Danny shot to fame after opening his own, now legendary, nightclub in Hanover Square in 1964. The glittering venue attracted more than 13,000 members and celebrities including Judy Garland, Warren Beatty, Shirley MacLean, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Elizabeth Taylor. Members of the royal family such as Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon also enjoyed nights out there.

He has also appeared in dozens of TV and stage shows and made theatrical history by being the first man to play a female role in a major musical when he took on the part of Dolly in Hello Dolly!.

Just as big a star abroad, Danny has performed everywhere from Canada to the Middle East and was even invited to be a British ambassador during Australia's bicentennial celebrations in 1988.

Danny regularly performs his show, The Good Olde Days, at venues all over the UK.

DANNY'S LIFE STORY:

Danny was born on July 26, 1927 in Cork.

He was evacuated to the village of Kennford in Devon during the Blitz.

He left school at 15 to work in a fashion store in Exeter.

He became involved in concert party entertainment during a spell in the Royal Navy.

He made his London debut at the Irving Theatre, London and worked with Barbara Windsor in his early days.

His West End show debut was in Come Spy With Me at the Whitehall Theatre.

He has performed more than 30 times in royal shows at Buckingham Palace.

He was named Theatre Personality of the Year in 1970 and Entertainer of the Decade in 1979.