The most amazing show London has ever seen: Millions witness megastars pay incredible musical tribute to Queen followed by breathtaking fireworks display to mark six decades on the throne
- Jubilee show was seen on TV by 57.4 per cent of the viewing public, with an average of 14.7million viewers throughout
- Viewers peaked at 16.9million at the show's culmination, as the Queen lit the national beacon, sparking fireworks
- Most viewed programme of the year across all channels, average 2.5million viewers MORE than Golden Jubilee concert
By PHIL VINTER and DAMIEN GAYLE
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Half a million people took to The Mall to give her Majesty a deafening reception as she entered the makeshift arena around the Queen Victoria Memorial the Diamond Jubilee Concert.
A lucky 12,000 people inside the arena were able to watch the spectacular firework show which brought the evening to an end at just before 11pm, turning the sky above London into a rainbow of incredible colours.
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Wow: Rows of fans lined the length of the Mall with giant screens ensuring that those furthest away from the action could still see what was happening on the stage
Flags were waved along the length of The Mall while the Union Jack colours were beamed across Buckingham Palace as well as images of the Queen and during her 60-year reign.
Although the BBC may again be criticised for beginning to roll the end credits before the jaw-dropping show, which was beamed to millions across the globe, came to a close.
According to viewing statistics released today, an average 14.7 million people tuned in to watch the incredible performance, with a peak of 16.9million towards the end as the Queen lit the national beacon. That means 57.4 per cent of the viewing public tuned in to watch the performance.
To put the viewing figure into context, 16.9million peak makes it the most watched show of the year so far across all channels, and it averaged 2.5million more than the Golden Jubilee concert, a BBC spokesman said.
The loyal were promised a night to remember and that's exactly what they got.
For the hordes of flag-waving royalists who descended on Buckingham Palace and the surrounding area for the Diamond Jubilee concert, it was a grand day out full of pomp and circumstance, not to mention a veritable feast of singing and dancing.
While a lucky few were able to watch the gig directly outside the Palace, a further 500,000 or so poured into nearby St James's Park and the Mall to watch the performers on big screens.
Boom: The incredible images were beamed to millions around the globe
Incredible: The sky over London is set alight as fireworks burst above the thousands of revellers lining the Mall
Fiery: A triple-pronged display of fireworks provide an incredible backdrop to the Diamond Jubilee concert in The Mall
Breathtaking: A rainbow of colours brought cheers from those who came out to see show their appreciation of the Queen
Magnificent scene: Paul McCartney performs outside Buckingham Palace during the Jubilee concert
By 9pm, such was the demand, police officers had declared the areas full and directed others to Hyde Park.
It was a day full of mixed emotions. First, there was joy that the sun was finally shining down on what has been rain-soaked weekend of celebrations. Then there was the concern and disappointment at news that Prince Philip had been rushed to hospital with a bladder infection.
Next came the excitement as pop royalty from throughout the Queen's reign - from Sir Cliff Richard to Cheryl Cole - took to the stage for the musical extravaganza.
The Queen was cheered as she arrived partway through the show, wearing a gold lame cocktail dress under a dark cape. It was decided before Philip's illness that she would watch only part of the concert.
Her majesty is not a noted pop music fan and appeared to be wearing yellow ear plugs as she observed the concert.
Banner time: A beacon is lit outside Buckingham Palace during the Jubilee concert, at the end of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations
Fantasia: Launched from Buckingham Palace gardens the fireworks marked the end of the incredible Jubilee Concert
Rule Britanina: Robbie Williams had kicked the event which culminated with the spectacular show
Red, white and blue: The Queen smiled as the four-minute display left those who had come out to celebrate proud to be British
Patriotic: A sea of cameras capture the incredible, once in a lifetime scene
Some 12,000 contest winners watched the show from an enclosed area, while a huge crowd stretched down the Mall, the wide boulevard leading up to the palace.
The crowds danced and sang along to tunes from the 1960s to the present day as fireworks lit up the night sky.
In the royal box were the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and many other royals enjoying a musical night in honour of the Queen.
Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha also sat near the royals and at one point were spotted chatting to Zara Phillips and her rugby-playing husband Mike Tindall.
Celebrities included Brian May, who famously played the national anthem on the palace’s roof during the 2002 Golden Jubilee concert, television presenters Floella Benjamin and Kirstie Allsopp, and ex-Bond Girl Barbara Bach who is married to former Beatle Ringo Starr.
Beautiful: Before the fireworks Prince Charles had addressed The Queen as 'Your Majesty', before adding 'Mummy' which gained a rousing laughter from the crowd
Lit up: The thousands of well-wishers from around the world flocked to London to witness the highlight of the Jubilee celebrations
Red sky at night: The Union Jacks were out in force along the famous red-surfaced street to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of a monarch for only the second time in history
Proud to be British: A Union Flag lights of the front of the Palace
What a scene: Smoke rises from the stage outside Buckingham Palace
Many of the hosts of the show, who included Lenny Henry and Jimmy Carr, poked fun at the royals.
But Rob Brydon got one of the biggest laughs from the crowds when he said: ‘Sixty years of reign. Sounds like a Welsh summer.’ He turned on the royals massed in their box, saying: ‘I’m delighted to say we have the Royal Family joining us this evening over in the royal box.’
Charles and the Duke of York acknowledged the comment by waving Union flags, then the comic said: ‘Now those are good seats, they are very good seats, I hope you didn’t use a tout - because that’s just spoiling it for the rest of us.’
One of the most bizarre performances of the night came as style queen Grace Jones performed her entire hit Slave To the Rhythm with a hula hoop, without it slipping.
Kylie arrived on stage dressed as a Pearly Queen, wearing a romper-style black shorts suit adorned with mother of pearl buttons. She completed the look with a black jacket that had a crown design in buttons on the back, and a peak cap. The Australian singer sang a medley of her dance tunes and was loudly cheered and whistled.
Sir Elton John's Crocodile Rock was one of the biggest tunes of the night, with all the crowds joining in with the chorus, whose words 'La, la, la, la, la' were projected on to the Palace.
Firework beacon: Buckingham Palace takes on a red hue as the thousands of pounds worth of fireworks blast into the night sky
Illuminating: The Great Britain colours are beamed onto Buckingham Palace as a plethora of red fireworks burst out over the sky above
Enjoying the moment: This youngster will remember this moment for the rest of her life
Rocking all over the roof: Madness perform on the roof of the Buckingham Palace as the famous building is draped in a curtain of red
Eyecatching: Red, white and blue stripes span the front of Buckingham Palace
Reflective: The London Eye ferris wheel is lit up in red, white and blue creating a beautiful, shimmering relection on the water below
The royals all stood for the final act, Sir Paul McCartney, who ran through a string of Beatles songs including Magical Mystery Tour, All My Loving and Let It Be as the crowds joined in.
Prince Charles brought the curtain down with an emotional and witty tribute to his mother which barely left a dry eye in the house.
In a warm, emotional and often witty speech in praise of his mother at the close of last night’s concert, that appeared to make her lip quiver more than once, the Prince of Wales said it was sad that the Duke of Edinburgh could not be at the event after being taken unwell.
He said: ‘The only sad thing about tonight is that my father cannot be here with us because, unfortunately, he’s been taken unwell.’
And he added to tumultuous applause from the audience outside Buckingham Palace: 'If you should loud enough, he might just hear us in hospital'. As Charles's speech came to an end, the fireworks came with the Queen plunging the Jubilee crystal into a tube to the light the final beacon on The Mall.
If nothing else, Britain certainly showed the world how to throw a party.
Have you taken any pictures of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations? From The Thames to your town, we want to see them. Send them for publication - with plenty of caption detail - to the Mail Online on the email address: mailonlinepictures@dailymail.co.uk
Elton John performs outside Buckingham Palace during the Jubilee concert as concentric rings span the width of the palace
Awesome: Paul McCartney performs a medley of hits on the stage outside the palace
Night to remember: The crowd of an estimated 500,000 sang, danced and cheered along to the gig, which featured pop royalty who made their names throughout the Queen's reign
Grand day out: The celebrations were full of mixed emotions from the concern over Prince Philip being taken to hospital with a bladder infection to the excitement of seeing some of the biggest acts in the world
Beautiful scenery: A rainbow arcs over the iconic London skyline as the crowds gather for the Diamond Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham palace
Proud to be British: A packed crowd listens intently to Prince Charles' moving and witty tribute to his mother at the end of the concert
Pomp and circumstance: A sea of red, white and blue flags adorns the foreground as the Queen and Prince Charles appear on stage at the end of the concert
One for posterity: A reveller captures the action as the party gets into full swing. The Mall and St James's park became so full, police had to divert crowds to Hyde Park
Patriotic: The capital came together in the streets and parks surrounding Buckingham Palace in a show of community cohesion for as far as the eye could see
Royal approval: Sir Elton John performing on the big screens which were relaying the concert live to the crowds which lined the Mall, St James's Park and Hyde Park
Red sky delight: Crowds in Hyde Park watch singing legend Shirley Bassey on the big screen against a beautiful sunset during the concert
Festival fever: The sheer weight of numbers in the crowd becomes more apparent in this aerial photograph of The Mall
Hats ON to the Queen: Well-wishers of all ages get into the spirit of the occasion, on the only the second time in Britain's history that we have celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of a monarch
Dressed for the occasion: A young girl wearing and holding a Union Flag watches the Diamond Jubilee Concert from The Mall
Royal outing: Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have flocked to London to witness the spectacle of the weekend's celebrations
Star-studded line-up: Pop princess Kylie Minogue was among the performers who also included Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John, Sir Cliff Richard and Cheryl Cole
Rule Britannia: A girl waves a Union Flag (left) during the concert, while another sports a St George's Cross on her face (right) in a patriotic show of support
Land of Hope and Glory: The concert was part of a series of events being held this weekend to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne. Others include Sunday's River Pageant and today's State Procession
The crowds had the added bonus of far drier conditions than the previous two days of the jubilee weekend when rain tried, but failed, to put a dampener on proceedings
Colourful: Canadian Bernatte Christie (left) camped overnight in readiness for the concert, while Alex Christofides (right) joins in the fun in British regalia
It's a screamer: The crowds go wild for Robbie Williams as he performs his smash hit Let Me Entertain You
Spectacular: Spectators wave Union Flags as they watch singer Robbie Williams perform during the Diamond Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham Palace
Clean up act: The lorries move in to begin the difficult task of dismantling the stage after the Diamond Jubilee Concert
Tough gig: A worker carries a railing from the stage of the Diamond Jubilee Concert as the clear up operation gets into full swing
High tower: Attached by rope to a cherry picker these workers set about dismantling the stage soon after revellers dispersed from the scene following the concert
All over: A lorry moves in to get to work on dismantling the stage outside Buckingham Palace
VIDEO: Scroll through to 1min 20" to see some of the spectacular fireworks...
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