The 'Angels' hitmaker, who is currently on the UK leg of his 'Swings Both Ways' tour, was incredibly 'proud' to receive the honour in a secret ceremony attended by his parents, pregnant wife Ayda Field, their daughter Teddy, 21 months, and Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Majid Khan and paid a heartfelt tribute to his home town, reported Daily Mirror.
"I can see how much this means to everyone in the room. I can see how proud they are of me and I am incredibly proud to be from Stoke on Trent - no matter how far away I am or how long I am away I am a Stokie," 40-year-old Williams said.
"This is Teddy's first visit to Stoke-on-Trent. I grew up here, her life is so different to mine. At her age Stoke-on-Trent was my whole world and I dreamed of getting into another world," he added.