Chef Gordon Ramsay “terrified” of disappointing Queen Elizabeth II

By Stone Martindale Jul 6, 2006, 15:58 GMT

Celebrity chef and star of Hell’s Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay, has been appointed an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II.  Ramsay almost missed the prize giving and audience with the Queen when his plane was delayed.

The profane taskmaster in the kitchen and Michelin award recipient picked up the award in his native Scotland yesterday, accompanied by his wife Tania, daughter Megan and mother Helen.

But the culinary star confesses “he was terrified he'd miss the Edinburgh ceremony after his flight was held up.”

Ramsay said, "I was getting nervous when we were on the runway for an hour. My flight was 55 minutes late in taking off."

As well as the fear of holding up the Queen, Chef Ramsay also feared the Queen would have issue with his unruly attire when he “ditched his tie” after receiving the prestigious honor.

Ramsay explains: "I kept it (my tie) on for the most important part. I would never attempt addressing the Queen with no tie on."

Ramsay’s show, Hell’s Kitchen, is one of the brightest stars in the line up of U.S. reality shows, and has won him loyal fans on both sides of the “pond.”