Rock and roll star Elvis Presley has been posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honour, by President Donald Trump.

Presley's velvety voice filled the White House briefly on Friday when a recording of one his songs was played at a ceremony hosted by the president to honour the king of rock 'n roll.

Presley was part of an eclectic group of seven Americans being awarded the Medal of Freedom, including the late baseball legend Babe Ruth and Antonin Scalia, the conservative Supreme Court justice

The living recipients included Miriam Adelson, who, like her casino tycoon husband Sheldon Adelson, is a heavyweight Republican party donor.

Mr Trump's homage to Presley - who once met with President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1970 - paused for a recording of the gospel song "How great thou art."