Sir Elton John has picked up a doctorate from the school where he honed his musical skills - almost 40 years after dropping out.

The pop star returned to the Royal Academy of Music in London on Wednesday wearing a graduation gown and accompanied by his mother - and said he had come a long way since leaving the first time.

I've seen him in a frock before, but I never thought I'd see him in one of these gowns

Sheila Fairbrother Sir Elton's mother

"I wasn't a very good student," he said. "When I didn't practice, I used to go round on the Circle Line and then go home."

Sir Elton, who has become one of the biggest stars in the world with a 30-year career, started at the Royal Academy at the age of 11, when he was still known by his original name of Reginald Dwight.

He won a one-day-a-week scholarship and would learn piano on Saturday mornings - but left before his original graduation.

Current Royal Academy principal Professor Curtis Price said there were good memories of Sir Elton's talents.

"Elton, by all reports, was some sort of a child prodigy," Prof Price said.

"He had a very successful time here, although as he looks back on it now he thinks perhaps he was a bit insecure and not as good as some of the other high-fliers."

Visits

Sir Elton's mother Sheila Fairbrother described the ceremony as "very exciting".

"I've seen him in a frock before, but I never thought I'd see him in one of these gowns," she said.

The star has returned to the Royal Academy on several occasions, including one visit in 1998 during which he performed and answered questions for students.

The star was one of the first two people to receive honorary doctorates in the Royal Academy's 180-year history.

The other was Sir Colin Davis, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra.