GWENT-born author Leslie Thomas knew just what to say to bring a smile to the Queen's face yesterday.

Mr Thomas, from Newport, joked with her about her health at her first public appearance since being struck down by a heavy cold.

The author of the best-seller, The Virgin Soldiers, picked up an OBE at Buckingham Palace and joked: "I said to her 'how good of you to turn up'."

On Monday, the Queen, 79, cancelled three appearances after catching a cold and sore throat which affected her voice.

Mr Thomas said: "She's not been very well and she is nearly 80 - which is not young.

"But she was fine. She asked about my writing. Getting this award is a thrill - it really is."

Mr Thomas, who is 74, has published more than 30 books since the success of The Virgin Soldiers.

He was born in Maesglas and was a small boy when, in 1943, his merchant seaman father was lost at sea. He was a Barnardo boy for a while, before being called up into the Army Pay Corps between 1949 and 1951, when he served in Malaya and Singapore.

Mr Thomas was joined by actor Geoffrey Palmer and former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell who also received OBEs.