Watching everything unfold was Smith’s proud mother, Deborah Smith, who described their relationship as “best friends”.
She admitted she has still not come to terms with the reality of her son’s worldwide fame, touring with stars such as Ed Sheeran, but was moved by the strong local support.
She said: “I’m overwhelmed, deeply appreciative… Eternally grateful, incredibly proud.”
Deborah explains that early support for her son came from local radio stations and the Luton community, and without it, “he wouldn’t be where he is today”.
She added: “They were raised Lutonians, with that comes an eclectic mix of nationalities, of cultures, of socioeconomic differences, but those differences actually make us one.
“Coming from a background of unity, with collaboration of all of these different cultures, it enables Miles to keep his feet firmly on the ground because he knows who he is, he knows where he’s come from- Miles is a Lutonian.”