A star-studded Concert For Diana

Prince William and Prince Harry came on stage twice at the new Wembley national soccer stadium during yesterday's star-studded concert in memory of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 46th birthday. The cloudy skies had lifted above London and the sun came out in time for the 3.30pm start.

Security had been increased as the concert took place just after three failed car bomb attacks in central London and Glasgow Airport.

Acts included Nelly Furtado and Diana favourites, Duran Duran and Tom Jones. Younger performers included Kanye West, P Diddy, Joss Stone and Lily Allen. P Diddy performed an emotive rap tribute to Diana, I'll Be Missing You, based on Police's Every Breath You Take.

The concert also included a performance by the English National Ballet and songs composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Just a year ago Connie Fisher was a tele-sales competing in How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? on BBC One. She is now the star of The Sound of Music and sang in front of a huge audience for the first time - as did Lee Mead who has only just won Any Dream Will Do and is yet to perform as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Prince William said the concert was a chance for people to "remember all the good things about her because she's not here to defend herself when she gets criticized."

Chelsy Davy was sitting next to Prince Harry in the audience but Kate Middleton was sitting in the row behind Prince William. After Take That's note-perfect version of Patience, Kate Middleton must have wondered if they were sending her a message. They followed that with Back for Good. Kate's gaze transferred from the stage to Prince William as Take That sang the lyrics "I just want you back for good".

The Sun says Kate's car had been sneaked by a palace flunky into Clarence House earlier in the day - as had Kate herself. Maybe Kate's patience will yet be rewarded.

Ricky Gervais had to fill in for several minutes while there were some problems backstage getting things ready for Elton's John finale and the concert finished well after the scheduled 10pm close.

Prince Harry said he and William had asked Elton John to play Candle in the Wind, the song he played at Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey in 1997. Their wish was not granted.

The British TV audience on BBC One peaked at 14.8 million towards the end of the concert - 60% of all TV viewers - in the 15 minutes from 10pm.

Overall, the Concert for Diana averaged 8.9 million viewers during the seven hours it was on air.

The audience grew steadily throughout the afternoon and evening, opening with 3.9 million viewers at 3.30pm, reaching 10 million at 8pm and climbing further after that.

63,000 were admitted to the stadium itself. The audience included Sandra Tigica, the Angolan mine victim who met Diana in 1997. The picture of Sandra with Diana had catapulted the plight of mine victims on to the world stage.

The Royal Forum