No limit on number of honours for stars of Team GB

She said: “I send my best wishes to all those who contributed to this remarkable achievement”.

She added: “We have had an fantastic fortnight at the Rio Olympics and we should be looking at the differing ways that we can recognise and reward the athletes for all they have achieved and honours are there to recognise and reward people”.

The Duke and Duchess, meanwhile, lauded the athlete’s achievement as an “inspiration to us all, young and old”.

The wins have made the Rio Olympics the most successful Games for Britain in over a century.

Britain finished second in the medal table in this year’s Rio Games with 27 golds out of a total of 67 medals becoming the first host nation ever to improve on their home games medal tally at the next competition.

“London 2012 was a hard act to follow, but you have made the entire country proud of everything you have accomplished”, they said in a statement.

“We all know that this success does not come easy and is the culmination of years of hard work, passionate commitment, sheer grit and determination”.

“We have really enjoyed following your achievements across such a wide variety of sports during the last two weeks”, they said.

There have been calls for Farah to be knighted after he became only the second Olympian in history to defend two track titles, making him the UK’s most successful track and field athlete with four golds.

“In terms of honours, there is an independent process”.

Those members of the squad who stayed in Rio for Sunday night’s closing ceremony will return home on Tuesday.

A Boeing 747 carrying 320 athletes and support staff will land at Heathrow airport at 10am in a gold-nosed British Airways aircraft with “victoRIOus” emblazoned on the side.

The team’s plane – which will also be ferrying pole vaults, javelins, bicycles and a 6.7-metre sail back from Rio – will be loaded with 77 extra champagne bottles and treats for team members, who will be offered a three-course menu.

Team GB sportsmen and women are also in line for honours after Downing Street confirmed there would be no formal cap on the number of athletes and coaches who can be recognised. The US was top.

She replied: “The Olympics reflect what the Union can achieve when we are all on the same team and work together”.

Professor Stephen Reicher, research co-ordinator from St Andrews University, said: “After a tremendous success – like winning the World Cup or, perhaps, doing so well in the Olympics – there is a sense that you can go up to anybody in your community, even a complete stranger, say: ‘Wasn’t that wonderful?’ and they will not only understand you but agree with you”.

“No one has come close to that and it’s an unbelievable achievement”.