The 43-year-old artist was felicitated by French minister of culture Audrey Azoulay with the insignia of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in a ceremony conducted near the Louvre, reported Billboard.
"This is another level... For me, France is the centre of art," the "Happy" singer said during the presentation.
Williams was in Paris to attend the annual Fashion Week and wished he could have had his wife and children by his side for the occasion.
The honour has been previously bestowed on legends such as, Elton John, Van Morrison and Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett.