Alan Hansen, 69, beams as he receives MBE from Prince William nine months after Liverpool and MOTD legend’s health scare

ALAN HANSEN beamed with pride as he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

The former Liverpool and Scotland defender was given the honour by the Prince of Wales, Prince William, at Windsor Castle.

Hansen, 69, was proud as punch as strode towards William to receive his MBE for services to football and broadcasting.

The former long-time Match of the Day pundit beamed as he shook hands with Wills, who he had a brief conversation with.

But he had an even bigger smile on his face when he posed with his medal outside Windsor Castle.

Hansen looked in fine fettle in one of his few publicly spotted outings since his health scare last year.

The Scot was hospitalized last June after falling seriously ill, although details of his condition weren’t revealed.

He bravely fought back and was eventually allowed to continue his recovery at home.

Hansen’s good friend and former Liverpool team-mate Graeme Souness provided regular updates on the condition of his pal, who he was in regular contact with.

Souness said: “Anyone who’s met Alan once, you know he’s got a wicked sense of humour.

“So, for two conversations with him in the last five or six days, both conversations were me on the receiving end of his humour.

“So that tells me he’s on the way back.”

Hansen looked in good spirits last October when he made a rare appearance at former club Partick Thistle for their Firhill clash with Airdrieonians, which he watched with his brother John.

When asked how it felt to be back watching his old side in action, he said: “It feels sensational.

“It’s great to be here, as I haven’t been here in a long, long time.

“I’ve got so many happy memories, in particular with that team in ’76, that team was fantastic.

“As soon as you went into the dressing room here, you just laughed and laughed.

“Thank you very much for having me here.”