Darcey Bussell has retired from ballet after more than 15 years at the top.

She was plucked from the corps de ballet by the late choreographer Sir Kenneth MacMillan when she was just 18 to dance the lead in The Prince of the Pagodas.

Bussell met Princess Diana in 1991 after performing in Dance for Life, a celebration of dance in aid of Crusaid, one the UK's leading Aids charities.

Bussell has performed the lead roles in most classical ballets, including the Royal Ballet's production of Don Quixote in 1993.

Away from the stage, Bussell has turned her hand to modelling, including being the face of a performance-led sportswear line at Marks and Spencer in 2002.

She even appeared in the BBC's Vicar of Dibley in 1997, alongside comedian Dawn French.

Bussell's high profile landed her a seat on Concorde's last passenger flight from New York to London in 2003. She was photographed putting her make-up on at the airport.

Bussell took a curtain call after The Royal Ballet Gala for the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations a year ago.

Bussell took her two daughters - Phoebe and Zoe - to Buckingham Palace when she received her CBE from the Queen in 2007.

Critics have raved about Bussell's performance in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth. She gave her final performance on 8 June at the Royal Opera House in London.