Grayson is mother of the bride

Another first for Essex. Congratulations to Chelmsford-born and Braintree-educated Grayson Perry on becoming the first person to receive a CBE at Buckingham Palace in full transvestite gear. Grayson wore his "Italian mother of the bride" outfit, a blue dress with a voluminous hat. He explained: "When I got the call 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." Prince Charles had an attack of the giggles while presenting the gong, but the Beefeaters and couriers appear to have kept straight faces.