Buckingham Palace Robert Plant, the former Led Zeppelin singer, denied that he had become part of the Establishment yesterday after receiving the insignia of CBE from the Prince of Wales.

Plant, 60, whose distinctive vocals graced tracks such as Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love, enjoyed an animated conversation with the Prince. Dressed in a blue suit with his hair in a ponytail, only the silver rings on his fingers gave away Plant’s rock’n’roll pedigree.

The singer said that he felt “humbled” to be appearing alongside military heroes and community volunteers. He said: “The diversity of people who have moved through here this morning proves there is no real Establishment here.”

The award puts Plant a rung above Jimmy Page, his former band mate, who was appointed OBE in 2005. Plant said that they would not fight over rank: “If we can remember each other’s phone number at this time in life it’s a miracle.” Asked if he would ever reunite with the rest of Led Zeppelin, Plant replied: “Sometimes I go a bit deaf in either ear, especially when people are talking nonsense.”

Times Archive 1973 Led Zeppelin in America

John Bonham gives the rest of the group a 20-minute interval while he plays his drum solo

• Led Zeppelin at Earls Court, 1975

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