Prince Charles joined stars including Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox and Sir Elton John onstage to honour his mother, who was celebrating her 60-year reign at the musical spectacular, staged outside the royal family’s London residence Buckingham Palace.
Following McCartney’s show-stopping finale, Charles introduced the monarch to the audience as “Your Majesty, mummy” before paying a touching tribute to his 90-year-old dad, who was taken from Windsor Castle to King Edward VII hospital in the U.K. capital earlier in the day for a suspected bladder infection.
He told the crowd, “The only sad thing about this evening is that my father couldn’t be here with us because unfortunately he was taken unwell. But ladies and gentlemen, if we shout loud enough, he might just hear us in hospital and get better.”
The cameras then cut to the Queen, who looked touched as fans began a rousing chant of “Philip, Philip…”
Prince Charles also called for “three resounding cheers for Her Majesty, the Queen”, who closed the third of four Diamond Jubilee celebratory days by placing the large royal crystal into pod, thus lighting the National Beacon.
A stunning firework display then lit up the sky.
As well as Lennox, McCartney and Sir Elton, the Queen and members of the royal family were treated to performances from Kylie Minogue, Tom Jones, Sir Cliff Richard, Robbie Williams, Dame Shirley Bassey and Grace Jones, while Madness performed on the roof of Buckingham Palace.
