Political caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, who has lampooned prime ministers, princes and other leading figures for more than 40 years, was yesterday "amazed" to receive a CBE from the Queen.
Scarfe's talent for drawing grotesque portraits has been featured in 50 one-man shows, a host of publications over the decades and led him to design sets and costumes for plays, operas and musicals. He has also had a long association with the rock group Pink Floyd, designing and directing the animation for the group's film version of their 1979 album The Wall.
Scarfe, 72, who was joined at the Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony by his wife, actress Jane Asher, said: "It's slightly strange since I've spent most of my life being rude to people that I should receive this.
"It came completely out of the blue. I had no idea but naturally I'm proud."
Describing one of his most memorable images, Scarfe said: "When I made my drawings for Private Eye they were shocking at the time but by today's standards they probably wouldn't be.
"I did a drawing of Macmillan, the prime minister at the time, in the pose of Christine Keeler, the prostitute who brought down the government, on the chair.
"And Private Eye put it on the cover of their annual and WH Smith wouldn't stock it. They sent them all back because of that one drawing."
Also honoured by the Queen yesterday was a detective who played a major part in the 2002 Soham murder inquiry, involving the deaths of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
Detective Chief Superintendent Russell Wate, 47, head of Cambridgeshire CID, collected the Queen's Police Medal.
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