Watford manager Roy Hodgson has today (Wednesday) received a CBE at Buckingham Palace.

The manager was present at the first major investiture to be staged at the Queen’s London residence since the start of the pandemic, more than two years ago.

Hodgson, 74, who was England boss during a four-year stint from 2012 to 2016, was made a CBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to football.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, Hodgson said: "It's a fantastic honour, there's no doubt about that and I'm really very proud to have been invited here today to and to receive it from the Duke of Cambridge. It's been an excellent day.

"It certainly wasn't the case of coming in and having a quick word and then being dismissed. I really got the feeling that we had the chance to talk, but most importantly of all it was very nice to receive his congratulations and for him to say that he was pleased to confer the honour on me."

The last investiture at the palace was on March 12 2020 just before the first lockdown, and was conducted by the Prince of Wales who opted for a namaste as he greeted recipients in a bid to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

A week earlier, the Queen had chosen to wear long white gloves as she carried out an investiture.