The musician and actor Dudley Moore arrived in style to be made a CBE at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

Mr Moore, 66, swept through the palace gates in a 1954 Silver Wraith Rolls-Royce - identical to the one in Arthur, the 1981 Hollywood hit for which he received a best actor Oscar nomination.

The star, who has a degenerative brain condition, was taken in a wheelchair to the front of the palace ballroom by a page.

The Prince of Wales, in his naval uniform, gave the honour to Mr Moore.

The actor's condition - progressive supranuclear palsy - has robbed him of his speech and rendered him almost immobile.

Asked afterwards if he ever thought he would receive an honour at Buckingham Palace, Mr Moore was able to reply simply: "No".

The ceremony was a rare public outing for the comic, who flew from New Jersey where he lives with his close friends the musicians Brian Dallow, 58, and his wife Rena Fruchter, 54, with whom Moore used to perform.

Mr Dallow said: "It's extremely frustrating for Dudley. He understands everything.

"It all goes in, but it's so difficult for him to respond."

But he added: "He was thrilled. It's a great honour for him after a life in the entertainment industry. He's delighted to be back in the UK."

The comic, who achieved worldwide stardom in his 1960s partnership with the late Peter Cook, was also accompanied yesterday by his 76-year-old sister Barbara Stevens.

Mrs Stevens, who lives in the Cotswolds, said: "This day means a lot for both of us. I'm very proud of him. He's achieved so much."

A year ago, a BBC1 Omnibus documentary was billed as Mr Moore's last interview. Then, he was able to talk about his deep frustration at his condition, saying he was trapped in his body.

Mr Dallow said yesterday that it was impossible to say how long Mr Moore had left to live.

"It's a gradual process and we have no idea," he said.

But he said that Mr Moore was still fundraising for research into progressive supranuclear palsy.

Mr Moore made his illness public in September 1999, and two months later appeared with Julie Andrews at a Philadelphia event to raise funds for the campaign.

Also being honoured at the palace yesterday were the author Ben Okri and the cartoonist Michael Heath.