Sir Paul McCartney has been awarded France's highest public award, the French Legion of Honour, for his services to music.
The former Beatle was decorated with the honour by President François Hollande in a private ceremony on Saturday at the Élysée Palace in Paris.
After receiving the award, McCartney said: "It is such an honour to be awarded this."
Hollande praised the 70-year-old's contribution to the arts and joked that he preferred the Beatles to the Rolling Stones.
The president also said he had preferred McCartney over fellow Beatle John Lennon when he was younger.
The award is usually only given to French nationals and mainly to those who have served in military or civil life. It was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.
Past British recipients have included Queen Elizabeth II, the actor Sir Laurence Olivier, the author Graham Greene and the war veteran Henry Allingham.
McCartney recently performed to a global audience at the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games.
