PA MediaFormer Rangers and Scotland star Ally McCoist has received an OBE for services to football and broadcasting in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The 62-year-old received the honour from Prince William, watched by his family.
The pundit and former player remains the all-time top scorer at Rangers with 355 goals in 581 matches, and he was capped 61 times for Scotland.
McCoist, who grew up in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, said he would “never have thought for a minute” that he would receive an OBE when he first started kicking a ball as a young boy.
PA Media“I’ve been very, very blessed to do something I love effectively all my life,” he said.
“There’s not many people who can get up in the morning and genuinely love what they’re doing.
“Playing football for a living was a dream, to do it professionally for 22 years was absolutely fabulous.”
He said he has no regrets about his career, which included a stint as manager of Rangers during a difficult era for the Glasgow club.
He was previously awarded an MBE in 1994 for his services to football.
Wednesday’s ceremony saw him honoured with an OBE from Prince William who McCoist said was “very well versed” in football.
He said: “It was great, it was special. You sometimes worry will there be things to say, will there be things to talk about, but he puts everybody at ease.
He said he mainly talked to the Prince about football.
“I’m obviously well aware that the prince is an Aston Villa fan – they’ve got a very, very big game tonight, which I think he’s going to.
“So we spoke about that, and just generally working in broadcasting and life, really.”
PA MediaHe said his mother had died just a few days after Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, and his whole family was thinking of her on Wednesday.
“My mother, who would have absolutely adored this, passed away maybe four days after the Queen. The Queen was 96, my mother was 95.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that we’re all thinking about her as well with a smile on our faces.”
He added: “I can’t tell you how my mum would feel, and I don’t have any doubt she’s feeling it now, she’s up there watching it somewhere.
“She’ll have a big smile on her face.”