Potter Perry chooses blue for the Prince

The flamboyant transvestite potter, famed for ceramic artwork depicting his darkest and most private feelings, said the award was for “30 years of hard graft”.

The Turner Prize-winning artist regularly appears dressed as his female alter-ego Claire and did not disappoint his fans when he travelled to Buckingham Palace for the investiture ceremony.

Perry wore a midnight blue dress and matching fitted jacket with a wide brimmed black-hat decorated with what looked like ostrich feathers.

Perry once described Claire as “a cross between Katie Boyle and Camilla Parker-Bowles” but when reminded of this he laughed and said: “This is my Italian mother-of -the-bride outfit”.

He added: “When I got the call (about the CBE) my first thought was what am I going to wear, it’s a serious thing I’m not going to compromise my identity as Britain’s pre-eminent transvestite.

“I googled to see what people wore and went for the sexier end,” he said.

“I always do like the older woman who makes an effort.”

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said that Perry’s “attire was entirely appropriate”.