Launching into his hit Let Me Entertain You, Robbie Williams kicked off the spectacular concert at Buckingham Palace in honour of the Queen.The Take That star, dressed in a blue military uniform, strutted across the circular stage which was specially constructed around the golden Queen Victoria Memorial at the front of the palace.Behind him the stage was filled with a backing band dressed as Irish Guards wearing Bearskin hats.
Over 18,000 spectators cheered and danced - many waving Union Flags - and an estimated one billion watched around the world.The excitement was palpable in the royal box, where members of the royal family including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry swayed to the music.
Next, the stage belonged to Will.i.am, who performed the Black Eyed Peas hit I Gotta Feeling, with a little help from Jessie J.The Countess of Wessex particularly enjoyed the feel good tune, singing along while she waved a flag. "Are you ready to party?" asked Jessie, to a huge roar from the crowd. The Londoner, funky in a split-thigh dress, then launched into her hit Domino.
The heavy rain of the previous day seemed like a distant memory, as the sun shone down. "Wishful thinking works - look at that sky, what a great day!" remarked presenter Rolf Harris.
The open air gig was put together by Take That star Gary Barlow, who described it as "the biggest thing I've ever done – and will ever do".
He performed Need You Now, with Cheryl Cole - gorgeous in a mermaid-style ball gown.
Sir Cliff Richard played a medley of his hits, singing We Don't Talk Any More, Devil Woman and The Young Ones while images of the Queen as a child flashed up in the background. He finished with Congratulations.The Queen joined the concert half way through. Lenny Henry indroduced her and an almighty cheer went up as she took her seat, escorted to her place by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Cheeky Lenny quipped: "I think you should all join me in turning to the royal box now and saying, 'You just missed Tom Jones! You just live there!"Sir Tom had just reminisced about his time playing the Golden Jubilee between renditions of his hits Delilah and Mama Told Me Not To Come.
Prince Philip was likely to be watching from the comfort of his hospital room. The 90-year-old was forced to miss the diamond gig after being admitted to hospital with a bladder infection.Although his absence was sure to be felt by the royals, they were still in great spirits, and highly amused by some of the comments made by the presenters.
Lee Mack drew laughs from the blue-blooded spectators when he mentioned JLS were walking around back stage with their tops off, saying: "There were more six packs back there than Prince Harry's got under his seat. "Jools Holland was joined on stage by Ruby Turner. He tinkled the ivories while she lent her soulful vocals to You Are So Beautiful.
The most impressive feat of the night came from 63-year-old Grace Jones, who sang Slave To The Rhythm while hula-hooping her way through the whole performance.She cut an impressive figure in a futuristic red and black bustier with a flowing skirt teamed with some formidable red headgear.Other notable moments included Annie Lennox singing There Must Be An Angel, complete with feathered wings, and Stevie Wonder rocking the stage with his hits Superstition, Isn't She Lovely and Sir Duke.
Madness became the first band to play on Buckingham Palace roof. They started with their hit Our House while projections were beamed onto the palace showing people dancing inside its rooms.
They finished with It Must Be Love while huge hearts were beamed onto the side of the building.There were more laughs in store when Peter Kay came on stage dressed as a Beefeater. He got the audience singing along to We Are Family, before introducing the final act of the evening, Sir Paul McCartney.
The Beatles legend performed The Magical Mystery Tour, All My Loving, Let it Be before he brought the curtain down on the stellar night of entertainment with a spine-chilling version of his hit Live And Let Die.
Diamond line-up
- Robbie Williams: Mack the Knife, Let Me Entertain You
- Cliff Richard: Medley
- Annie Lennox: There Must Be An Angel
- Elton John: I'm Still Standing, Your Song,
- Gary Barlow & Cheryl Cole: Need You Now
- JLS: Everybody In Love, She Makes Me Wanna
- Madness: Our House, It Must be Love
- Ed Sheeran: A Team
- Kylie Minogue with Flawless: Medley
- Gareth Malone & The Military Wives: The National Anthem
- Gary Barlow, Andrew Lloyd Webber, African Children's Choir,Gurrumul, Slum Drummers, Gareth Malone & The Military Wives: Sing
- Jessie J: Domino
- Will.I.Am & Jessie J: I Gotta Feeling
- Shirley Bassey: Diamonds Are Forever
- Grace Jones: Slave To The Rhythm
- Stevie Wonder: Superstition, Isn't She Lovely, Happy Birthday, Sir Duke
- Paul McCartney: Live and Let Die,Let It be, the Magical Mystery Tour
- Tom Jones: Delilah, Mama Told Me Not To Come
- Jools Holland & Ruby Turner: You Are So Beautiful
- Alfie Boe: O Sole Mio
- Renee Fleming: Un Bel Di Vedremo
- Alfie Boe & Renee Fleming: Somewhere
- Lang Lang: Hungarian Rhapsody No6/Rhapsody in Blue
