England and Wolves legend Bert Williams was among hundreds of guests who enjoyed a garden party at Buckingham Palace.

The 90-year-old made the first of two trips to London yesterday – as he will return later this year to collect an MBE.

Mr Williams said: “It was a day I will remember for the rest of my life.”

The former goalkeeper was accompanied to the Queen’s garden party by daughter Ann and son-in-law David.

Mr Williams, of Shifnal, said: “I was pleased more than anything to be able to take my daughter and it was a lovely day for her.

“There was so much to see and so many people to talk to. Buckingham Palace was so impressive but you need about a week to be able to see it all and take it all in.”

Although he did not get to meet the Queen, Mr Williams said he was not concerned  as he looked ahead to his return trip. “I will get to meet her when I go for my honour,” he said.

“There were thousands of people and everybody wanted to see the Queen so wherever she was, there was a host of people around her, plus she is very well-monitored. There were some people there who I recognised and who recognised me.”

Mr Williams, who  played in the 1950 World Cup, was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to football and charity.

He has raised more than £100,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, inspired by his late wife Evelyn who suffered from the disease prior to her death in 2002.