The Duke of York has inspected the construction site that is transforming the grounds of Buckingham Palace into a giant concert arena.

"This used to be a very nice garden," he joked during a meeting with workers.

The Duke watched construction workers build the Royal Box stand

The Queen's son strolled around the Palace grounds touring the scene of preparations for two public concerts to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

"When are you going to start rattling the windows?" he asked sound technicians.

They were building the giant speaker stacks that will be used at the classical Prom at the Palace on 1 June and pop's Party at the Palace on 3 June.

The Duke, who hopes to attend the pop concert which stars Sir Paul McCartney and Will Young, also spoke to saffolders erecting the Royal Box.

Major project

Turning the Queen's camomile lawn into a concert venue requires a small army of workmen and women.

A stage large enough to hold a full orchestra and chorus is nearing completion ahead of rehearsals which begin on Friday.

The arched roof of the stage was last used for a Millennium Eve event in the Caribbean, the Duke was told.

Among the stars performing will be Ozzy Osbourne, Mis-Teeq, The Corrs, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Cliff Richard, Annie Lennox and Eric Clapton.