ELEANOR HALL: The forecourt of London's Buckingham Palace was transformed today into a stage for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert.
Europe correspondent Rachael Brown was there and filed this report.
RACHAEL BROWN: The lucky ballot winners choked the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, and entertained they were.
(Music: Let Me Entertain You, Robbie Williams)
Robbie Williams kicked off the concert. Sir Elton John in a sparkling pink jacket got the crowds bopping.
(Music: Crocodile Rock, Elton John)
Australia's Kylie Minogue was there…
(Music: Spinning Around, Kylie Minogue)
RACHAEL BROWN: And Shirley Bassey made a fitting contribution.
(Music: Diamonds Are Forever, Shirley Bassey)
RACHAEL BROWN: The British ska band, Madness, sang from the roof of the Queen's house, for this 1980s hit.
(Music: Our House, Madness)
RACHAEL BROWN: The former Take That star Gary Barlow and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber penned a souvenir jubilee song, Sing.
(Music: Sing, Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber)
RACHAEL BROWN: Two hundred representatives from Commonwealth countries including Australia's Gurrumul Yunupingu sang to the 10,000 strong audience, and to half a million more watching on live screens.
The celebration was tempered somewhat by the news Price Philip had been taken to hospital with a bladder infection. His son, Prince Charles, urged the crowed to roar him well.
PRINCE CHARLES: Ladies and gentlemen, if we shout loud enough, he might just hear us in hospital.
(Crowd cheers loudly)
RACHAEL BROWN: From the big screen, the lady of the moment's eyes welled up, and for a brief moment, she was not just a Queen, but also an old lady who could have been missing her husband, wishing he was there for her big day.
MALE VOICE: Her Majesty the Queen will now light the national beacon.
RACHAEL BROWN: The Queen lifted an enormous crystal diamond from a pillow and placed it into a pod. A six-meter flame then shot up.
This was the last of more than 4,000 beacons lit across the world. The former Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney star has paid tribute to the Queen's 60 years of service.
(Music: All My Loving, Paul McCartney)
A stunning fireworks display showered down over the palace, ending the party.
(Sound of fireworks)
Revellers were jokingly warned to clear out fast or the Queen would set her corgis on them.
The jubilee festivities continue later tonight with a church service, carriage procession, balcony appearance and a fly past.
This is Rachael Brown in London reporting for The World Today.