David Walliams meets the Queen

David Walliams met the Queen at a reception held at Buckingham Palace for top British achievers.

Actress Thandie Newton and equestrian Zara Phillips - voted BBC's Sports Personality of the Year - were also present.

Walliams joked that the Queen said Little Britain was her favourite show, before qualifying, "No she didn't, but she acknowledged it.

According to the comedy actor they also spoke about Walliams' charity swim across the English Channel: "She said: 'Were you covered in lard?' I said 'Yes, but it's not as much fun as it looks' and she laughed."