Formula One legend Jackie Stewart was knighted at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Stewart, who won the world title in 1969, 1971 and 1973, received his honour from Prince Charles for services to motor racing.

Charles, who is nursing an eye injury sustained while pruning a tree, joked that Stewart displayed considerable courage at the investiture.

"He said I was very brave to be knighted by him with a sword - I suppose he was referring to his recent injury," the 62-year-old Scot said.

After the ceremony Stewart recalled that he was Britain's sportsman of the year in 1971 when Charles' sister, Princess Anne, was sportswoman of the year for show jumping.

"I was world champion at the time and she was European three-day eventing champion," he said.