TAKE A BUTCHER'S AT THE PEN BEHIND HIS EAR, MA'AM

William Lloyd Williams, known as Wil the Meat to his customers in a Welsh village, is never seen without the biro in its traditional place.

It has been his trademark for 30 years so it was natural to him that he should wear it to the Palace to receive an MBE for services to the meat industry.

Sadly, Her Majesty did not place an order. But she did reward him with a smile.

“She noticed it and gave me a slight smile as I turned away,” he said. “I think it is fair to say that one was amused.”

In his shop yesterday at Machynlleth, Powys, Wil, 49, told how he had bowed to pressure from his wife Carwen to remove the pen as he went into the Palace on Thursday. But he sneakily replaced it as he waited to receive his honour.

“If it is good enough for my customers then it is good enough for Buckingham Palace,” he said later.

Royle Family star Sue Johnston, who was receiving an OBE, spotted the odd fashion statement.

Wil said: “She said to me, ‘Do you know you’ve got a biro behind your ear?’ I said, ‘Yes, I’m a butcher and I thought I might have to take a Christmas order.’ She liked that. She thought it was hilarious.”