Comedienne asks Queen 'Are you disrespecting me?'

Nov 22, 2005, 14:27 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth was left stunned when comedienne Catherine Tate asked the monarch "Are you disrespecting me?"

The comic - who was playing host at the Royal Variety Performance in Wales - was then interrupted on stage by her co-star who quipped: "You could have been beheaded."

But, Tate, in the guise of her obnoxious teenage comic character Lauren, looked again at the queen in the royal box and uttered her catchphrase: "Do I look bovvered?"

Her Majesty politely smiled at the joke, while her husband Prince Philip was spotted laughing - along with the star-studded audience.

Earlier in the evening, the queen couldn't contain her laughter when she was introduced to a troupe of cross-dressing ballet dancers on her way into the event at Cardiff's Millennium Centre.

The monarch also mingled with stars, including Sir Cliff Richard, Ozzy Osbourne, Welsh singing sensation Charlotte Church and Will Young.

The royal couple at the annual show - held for the first time in Wales - were also entertained by Katherine Jenkins, who sang Donna Summer track 'I Feel Love', while legendary singer Shirley Bassey performed a medley of her greatest hits.

Copyright 2005 BANG Media International