His father Pete Conway said: “Where has 50 years gone?

“It’s been a whirlwind – but what a pleasure. An absolute pleasure.”

Mr Conway said Robbie had had “an incredible journey” which he had been lucky enough to be on with him.

His favourite of his son’s songs was Angels which he said Robbie sang to him in the car on the way to Nantwich, Cheshire, shortly after writing it.

“That sort of established Rob,” he said of the 1997 hit.

The star had six years as member of boyband Take That and shot to superstardom after going solo in 1996.

Looking back at 50 years of his life was a bit strange, his mother said.

“With Robert, from birth until now, there’s always been things going on with him,” she said.

“You were never, ever surprised by anything eventually as he grew up.”

When asked to pinpoint moments from his career that made her proud as his mother, Ms Williams said it was that he “always does his best”.

“He always gives when he is working. I can’t say there’s anything that’s any better than the other,” she said.