Guitarist Brian May will open the Queen's Jubilee concert by playing the National Anthem on the roof of Buckingham Palace.

Fellow members of the band Queen, along with singer Phil Collins and a full orchestra will then join in from a plastic stage in the palace gardens below.

This is a celebration for everybody

Jubilee spokesman

The roof-top vantage point was chosen to provide a dramatic start to the open-air concert, which takes place on 3 June.

The event will be screened live by the BBC and broadcast around the world.

Organisers of the �4m extravaganza had been searching for an unusual way of performing God Save the Queen.

"We wanted to make it spectacular," a Jubilee spokesman said. "This achieves that aim."

Beatle tribute

When Queen's performance is finished, comedian Lenny Henry will introduce Latino singer Ricky Martin, who will entertain the crowds with his number one hit Livin' La Vida Loca.

In addition to celebrating the Queen's 50 years of rule, the concert also salutes the life of the late George Harrison.

Sir Paul McCartney and guitarist Eric Clapton will perform Harrison's Here Comes the Sun.

The Queen wants the Jubilee concert to appeal to all ages

Other performers on the bill include Ozzy Osbourne, Canadian singer Brian Adams and Pop Idol winner Will Young.

"Trying to appeal to all ages is the basic thing behind it all," the spokesman said. "This is a celebration for everybody."

The concert's grand finale will be a rendition of the Beatles' All You Need Is Love, led by Sir Paul McCartney.