Monday’s Golden Jubilee celebrations came to a rocking party finale with a screaming guitar rendition of the national anthem, thousands of cheering fans and a line-up of pop stars led by Sir Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton in one of the most star-studded concerts ever seen. An estimated one million people thronged the parks and roads around Buckingham Palace to watch the concert on giant screens, with thousands waving union flags in the Mall, while 200 million more watched around the world.
More than 12,000 lucky ticket holders had the opportunity to see the concert in the normally sedate gardens of the palace, dancing and singing along to music performed by a who’s who of British and international talent. Prince Charles and his sons, William and Harry, laughed and cheered with the rest of the fans while other young royals joined in with the fun.
“In my long experience of pop concerts,” said the Prince of Wales, tongue-in-cheek, “this has been something very special. All of this has made me feel extraordinarily proud of this country.”
Crowd cheered wildly as the “Party At The Palace” kicked off with Queen guitarist Brian May delivering a stirring solo rendition of God Save The Queen from atop the palace roof. Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin went straight into The Cup Of Life before singing his hit Livin’ La Vida Loca. Prince William cheered enthusiastically as S Club 7 arrived on stage, and he and Prince Harry raised their hands over their heads applauding as rocker Ozzy Osborne launched into the Black Sabbath anthem Paranoid.
Stars from every generation of pop were on the bill: from Shirley Bassey to Beach Boy Brian Wilson performing with the Corrs. British rockers Queen teamed up with Pop Idol Will Young and Eric Clapton and Phil Collins came on to do the classic track Layla. Sitting in the third row of the royal box, Prince Charles' long-term companion Camilla Parker Bowles led the clapping as Collins and Queen drummer Roger Taylor took to the stage to perform the Motown classic You Can’t Hurry Love.
More than three hours later for the finale, Paul McCartney sang a medley of Beatles’ classics including All You Need Is Love, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Hey Jude. Paul performed some of the songs alone, other he sang with rock stars from his own generation, including a touching rendition of George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Clapton, in tribute to his former Beatles’ bandmate who died last year.
The crowds were still hollering as Queen Elizabeth II led the royal family onto the stage to thank the performers. Prince Charles gave a speech paying tribute to “Your Majesty, mummy”, and thanking everyone for taking part in the celebrations. “We feel proud of you” he said, “proud and grateful for everything you have done for your country and the Commonwealth over the past 50 years supported throughout by my father. You have embodied something vital in our lives: continuity. You have been a beacon of tradition and stability in the midst of profound, sometimes perilous, change.”
The concert came at the end of a day of celebrations and street parties around the UK in honour of the monarch. Elizabeth II herself brought the festivities to a close when she used the Millennium flame to light the last of a chain of 2,000 beacons, which had stretched across the UK and abroad. The beacon, in front of the Royal Monument, sparked a 14-minute firework spectacle, which filled the skies over central London with colour and light, while a sound and light show decorated the front of the palace. The celebrations are set to close Tuesday with a grand display of pomp and pageantry marking the monarch’s 50 years on the throne.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Prince Charles gave a speech at the end of the concert paying tribute to "Your Majesty, mummy", and thanking everyone for taking part in the celebrations and for gallery
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Princes William and Harry laughed and cheered along with the rest of the fans at the concert
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The Queen brought the festivities to a close when she used the Millennium flame to light the last of a chain of 2,000 beacons, which had stretched across the UK and abroad. The beacon sparked a spectacular 14-minute firework spectacle while a sound and light show decorated the front of the palace
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Sitting in the third row of the royal box, Camilla Parker Bowles led the clapping as Phil Collins and Queen drummer Roger Taylor came on to perform the Motown classic You Can't Hurry Love
