Ladies and gentlemen, in my long experience of pop concerts, this has been something very special indeed.

I don't think that any of us will ever forget this evening.

It really has been a wonderful celebration of some of the best of British musical talent.

Well, nearly all British... nearly all British.

The Queen listens intently

And when you're talking about British talent, my goodness, there's a lot of it about.

And this gives me an opportunity on behalf of everybody, I think, to express our warmest gratitude to all the performers who've given up so much of their precious time to be here and to have entertained us in this remarkable way.

As a result, they've enabled us to raise an enormous amount for charity which really has been fantastic.

'Proud' moment

And, ladies and gentlemen, we must also thank the technicians because without all of them, and there are hundreds of them behind here, without all of them, none of this incredible extravaganza would ever have happened nor would we have had such incredible sound quality.

I don't know about you, but I thought it was fantastic.

You have been a beacon of tradition and stability in the midst of profound, sometimes perilous change

And for that we also owe a huge amount to the BBC for having made it all possible.

So, I don't know about you, ladies and gentlemen, but all of this has made me feel extraordinarily proud of this country and we, Your Majesty, are here tonight because above all, we feel proud of you; proud and grateful for everything you have done for your country and the Commonwealth over 50 extraordinary years, supported unfailingly throughout by my father.

You have embodied something vital in our lives - continuity.

Memorable night

You have been a beacon of tradition and stability in the midst of profound, sometimes perilous change.

Fifty years ago, at nearly four years of age, I would probably have been playing in the sandpit in the garden just behind this stage.

Prince Philip was praised by Charles

But now you have generously invited everyone in for a thoroughly memorable party... and we probably frightened the poor old geese into the bargain.

So, Your Majesty, we are all deeply grateful to you and, in the words of the non-politically-correct second verse of the national anthem, you have defended our laws and certainly given us cause to shout with heartened voice, 'God Save the Queen'.