Just as he was in 2014 when he learned of these allegations, Cliff Richard was in the Algarve when he was told that he had been completely cleared.

Earlier on Thursday, the Crown Prosecution Service said following a “careful review” of the case, it had decided there was “insufficient evidence to prosecute”.

In a statement, Sir Cliff said he was “obviously thrilled that the vile accusations and the resulting investigation have finally been brought to a close”.

Four men claimed offences took place between 1958 and 1983, the CPS said.

“After almost two years under police investigation I learnt today that they have finally closed their enquiries”, Sir Cliff said on Thursday morning.

“I have always maintained my innocence, cooperated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point.”

The statement continued: “Ever since the highly-publicised and BBC-filmed raid on my home I have chosen not to speak publicly.

“Even though I was under pressure to 'speak out', other than to state my innocence, which was easy for me to do as I have never molested anyone in my life, I chose to remain silent.”

In a statement, also issued on Thursday, South Yorkshire Police issued a “wholehearted apology” for the additional anxiety caused to Sir Cliff by the force’s “initial handling of the media interest.”

South Yorkshire police added that “non-recent allegations are, by their very nature, complex and difficult matters to investigate and can take a considerable amount of time.

“We appreciate that waiting for a conclusion will undoubtedly have caused additional distress to all those involved and we have made every effort to ensure this has been as timely as possible.

“However, it is in the interests of justice to investigate such matters thoroughly.”

Earlier this year, The Sunday Times reported that an unnamed close friend of the singer had said the inquiry has foundered because detectives have been unable to find evidence to substantiate the claims.

The paper added Richard was understood to have provided police with evidence that he was never alone with two men who allege that he assaulted them in separate incidents in the 1980s.

Back in 2015, the BBC, whose coverage was of the allegations were widely condemned, submitted its live coverage of the police raid on Sir Cliff Richard’s home for a top media award.

The BBC failed to win the award.

Throughout the debacle, people from all sections of society in the Algarve continued to express their support for the singer during his two-year long ordeal.

Sir Cliff has since been awarded the Keys to Albufeira, where he has been visiting for the past six decades.

According to the Albufeira Mayor, the gesture of handing the key to the city to Sir Cliff was a way of “recognising the strong contribution the artist has made to the development and promotion of the city.”

Sir Cliff Richard first fell in love with Albufeira after holidaying there in 1961, and purchased his first home in the city that same year.

Back in 2013, Sir Cliff told The Portugal News of his love for Albufeira in an interview, saying: “If I was going to sell up everything, which will probably happen one day, this would be the last place.”

The singer was the first pop or rock artist to be knighted by the Queen and also fulfilled a life-long dream of creating his own wine, Vida Nova, in Albufeira.