James Herbert, one of the world’s greatest horror writers, was awarded an OBE by the Prince of Wales – and then surprised the royal by telling him “you’re in my new book”.

Mr Herbert, 67, has frightened millions of readers with his novels featuring the supernatural or threats to mankind like nuclear war or flesh eating giant rats.

During the 1970s a succession of novels like The Fog and Lair were must-read books which left readers with their hearts racing and he has hogged the best-seller lists ever since.

After the Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony the writer described the OBE, for services to literature, as an honour and something his mother, now dead, would have been proud of.

The 67-year-old said: “I told him ‘you’re in my new book’. I’m glad it’s not out yet but I told him ‘It’s OK, I’m not saying anything bad about you but you are there’. In fact I like him and I say some very nice things about him.”

He added cryptically: “There’s another secret in the palace that I divulge.”