June 5, 2012 0:16

Paul McCartney, Elton John, Robbie Williams play the Queen's Diamond Jubilee gig

Stevie Wonder, Tom Jones, Grace Jones and Madness also show up to play for monarchy

Photo Gallery: Paul McCartney
Photo: PA Photos

Paul McCartney closed the Queen's Jubilee Concert in London with a five-song greatest hits set tonight (June 4) in front of the watching monarchy.

Playing to a crowd of 12,000 on a stage in front of Buckingham Palace, the former Beatle topped a bill which featured artists from the past six decades of Elizabeth II's time on the throne.

After kicking off with 'Magical Mystery Tour', McCartney went on to play 'All My Loving', 'Let It Be' and 'Live And Let Die' - complete with customary pyrotechnics. He then closed the show with 'The White Album' track 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da', which saw many of the night's previous performers join him onstage.

Concert co-organiser Gary Barlow roped in Robbie Williams to open the show with 'Let Me Entertain You', with Black Eyed Peas man Will.i.am, Jessie J and JLS following. Barlow later performed a duet with Cheryl Cole, before Cliff Richard played a medley of his decades-spanning back catalogue.

Displaying a better grasp of gig etiquette than the rest of her family, the Queen skipped the first 90 minutes of the show, missing performances from the likes of Tom Jones, Annie Lennox, Cliff Richard and Grace Jones, who spun a hula hoop while performing 'Slave To The Rhythm'.

The Queen also didn't make it in time to catch Ed Sheeran's performance of 'The A Team', but seemed pleased to meet the 21-year-old singer-songwriter backstage (see picture right).

Once the monarch took her seat, she was treated with Williams' second stint of the night - singing 'Mack The Knife' and a performance of 'Sing', Barlow's dreary official Jubilee song. She also caught sets from Shirley Bassey, Kylie Minogue, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, McCartney and Madness, who appeared on the roof of the Palace to play 'Our House' and 'It Must Be Love'.

McCartney and co then watched on as Prince Charles gave a speech to the crowd, before the Queen stuck a giant diamond in a tube to light the National Beacon and the show concluded with fireworks.

The Diamond Jubilee festivities conclude tomorrow (5).

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