BRITAIN: Patriotic festivities in Britain, celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 50th year on the throne hit a high note yesterday with an all-star pop concert in the gardens of her Buckingham Palace residence.
A beaming Brian May, guitarist of legendary rock band Queen, started the party with "God Save the Queen", from the palace roof.
The line-up also included Latin star Ricky Martin, Gothic rocker Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Phil Collins and a host of other singers, comedians and celebrities.
"I've never seen a gig like it," said comedian Ben Elton, one of the concert's hosts. The Party at the Palace was the culmination of a day of street parties and parades honouring the 76-year-old monarch.
More than 150,000 gathered in Pall Mall outside the palace, many camping out from an early hour to secure a good view of the giant screens showing the concert.
Inside the palace, the lucky 12,000 who won tickets in a lottery enjoyed a special Jubilee hamper, including champagne and strawberries, on the lawn.
"I've had some good times in my life but I never thought it would get as good as this, dining in the gardens of Buckingham Palace at the queen's expense. It's bloody fantastic," said Mr John Renton, a retired factory worker from Sunderland.
Members of the royal family watched proceedings from the royal box along with celebrities and public figures, including the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
In a repeat of a classical concert, held at the palace on Saturday, Prince Charles's long-time companion Ms Camilla Parker Bowles was also seated in the box but not beside the prince.
There was a brief fire at Buckingham Palace on Sunday night which required the building to be evacuated and interrupted preparations for the concert.
Despite a drizzling day, many people held street parties yesterday and crowds gathered in Windsor to catch a glimpse of the queen at a parade.
"We want to fetch everybody together, as there is a lack of community spirit in general," said Ms Doris Hester, 49, the organiser of a small street party in north London.
The parties echoed similar events held for the Silver Jubilee 25 years ago.
While numbers were smaller and attitudes less reverential than in 1977, the response to Jubilee year has heartened a royal family beset by scandal and tragedy in recent years.
After the concert, the queen was due to light the last of nearly 2,000 royal beacons from Lands End to John O'Groats in Britain, and Antarctica to Zambia abroad, and then watch three tonnes of fireworks being set off from the roof of the palace.
Earlier in the day she inaugurated a national music festival to celebrate the rich variety of cultures not just across her country but throughout the 54-nation Commonwealth.
The Jubilee gala continues today as the queen travels to St Paul's Cathedral and with a balcony appearance back at the palace. - (Reuters)