Barbara joked that it was lovely to meet "another small lady", admitting that she was impressed by her "gorgeous skin", adding: "I wonder what she uses?"
The star, who plays Peggy Mitchell on the BBC soap, celebrated the occasion with some of her former co-stars, including June Brown (Dot Branning) and Pam St Clement (Pat Butcher).
She told Sky News: “After everyone was being so nice and congratulating you, all of a sudden people start pulling out a whole list of things - because I was honest, in my book - a whole page of things that kind of knocks you, as they're asking 'why would it go to her?'.
"I just thought 'why do you want to rain on my parade?'"
It's been a busy few days for Barbara, as she has just begun filming her upcoming departure from 'EastEnders'.
After disappearing from screens again following the bombshell, the actress has been filming her death scenes, which will also see Ross Kemp and Danniella Westbrook return as her children Grant and Sam.
Peggy's death will air on 'EastEnders' later in the spring.
Barbara Windsor's Career In Pictures
An early headshot of Barbara taken in the 1950s.(01 of32)
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In a production of Fings Ain't What They Used To Be at Garrick Theatre, London in 1960.(02 of32)
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Carry On Spying (1964)(03 of32)
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Performing on TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars in the 1960s(04 of32)
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On The Des O'Connor Show in 1966.(05 of32)
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Carry On Henry (1967)(06 of32)
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Carry On Doctor (1967)(07 of32)
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Carry On Doctor (1967)(08 of32)
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Carry On Camping (1969)(09 of32)
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Carry On Again Doctor (1967)(10 of32)
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Carry On Again Doctor (1967)(11 of32)
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On stage in The Boy Friend in 1971(12 of32)
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Carry On Matron (1972)(13 of32)
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Carry on Abroad (1972)(14 of32)
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Carry On Matron (1972)(15 of32)
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Carry On Dick (1974)(16 of32)
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With Danny La Rue in Come Spy With Me in 1977.(17 of32)
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In Worzel Gummidge in 1979.(18 of32)
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(credit:Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
With Pauline Quirke in Both Ends Meet in 1980.(19 of32)
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With Russell Grant on Family Fortunes in 1990.(20 of32)
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One Foot In The Grave(21 of32)
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Actors Richard Wilson and Barbara Windsor in a scene from episode 'The Affair of the Hollow Lady' of the BBC Television sitcom 'One Foot in the Grave', October 23rd 1994. (Photo by Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images) (credit:Radio Times via Getty Images)
In panto in 1994.(22 of32)
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With EastEnders co-star Ross Kemp in 1996.(23 of32)
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With Graham Norton at a Pride event in 1997(24 of32)
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(credit:Steve Eason via Getty Images)
With on-screen husband Mike Reid in EastEnders in 1999.(25 of32)
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(credit:John Stillwell - PA Images via Getty Images)
Launching her first solo album in 1999.(26 of32)
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Being turned into a waxwork at Madam Tussauds in 2000.(27 of32)
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Receiving her MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2000.(28 of32)
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Launching her autobiography All Of Me in 2000.(29 of32)
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(credit:Owen Humphreys - PA Images via Getty Images)
Showing the Queen around the EastEnders set in 2001.(30 of32)
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With her EastEnders co-stars as show wins Best Soap at the NTAs.(31 of32)
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(credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
Barbara receives a Damehood at Buckingham Palace in 2016.(32 of32)