The actor has been married to his wife Mary for 60 years, but the couple were denied a full church service in 1941 because he was serving in the Army. He bitterly regretted not being able to give his bride a white wedding.

But the years rolled away as the couple renewed their vows at a special service at St Mary’s, in Denham, Buckinghamshire, in front of 100 friends and wellwishers. Guests included the couple’s actress daughter, Hayley, and the actor Robert Lindsay.

Sir John, who is partially blind, and his wheelchair-bound wife, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, were driven the 30 yards from their home to the church gates in a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.

Conducting the service, the Rev Adrian Hirst compared their marriage to a shining diamond and said that Lady Mills had been the linchpin in her husband’s life.

Sir John said afterwards: “We have been supposed to be having it for the last 50-odd years, but we never got around to it. But last week I said ‘St Mary’s is right next door — so let’s do it’ and we suddenly decided.”

The couple celebrated with a reception at home and are now planning a second honeymoon in Gibraltar in April.

The couple have been inundated with bouquets and said they were honoured to receive a telegram from Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, whom Sir John has known since 1942, offering her “warmest congratulations”.