Joan Collins receives damehood from Prince Charles

Just call her Dame Joan Collins now, darling.

The “Dynasty� alum received the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire from Britain’s Prince Charles on Thursday for her charity work with Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice, breast cancer research and children with learning disabilities.

The 81-year-old English actress, who’s set to play the Queen Mum in E!’s rookie series “The Royals,� attended the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace wearing an ornate Philip Treacy hat and a cream-colored caped ensemble of her own design. The glamorous Alexis Carrington would have approved (though she might have opted for more shoulder pads).

“Not in a billion years did I think I would be made a dame; it never even crossed my mind,� the Golden Globe winner told reporters at the palace (via the BBC). “It wasn’t anything I ever aspired to. I just wanted to be a jobbing actress, a working actor and somebody who could still perform.�

The “ecstatic� Collins was accompanied by her fifth husband, Percy Gibson, and daughter, Tara Newley.

Collins was one of the many celebrities tapped for honors on Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s honor list, which awarded titles to more than 1,100 people. “Late Late Show� host James Corden, actress Kristin Scott Thomas and actor John Hurt were just a few of the Tinseltown selections. Though they don’t get a formal title, recipients can put the letters of their order after their name and be addressed as “sir� or “dame.�

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