Memorial concert for Princess Diana

An international lineup of pop stars paid tribute to Princess Diana yesterday at a memorial concert watched by her sons Princes William and Harry and a crowd of 60,000 at London's Wembley Stadium.

Elton John, a good friend of the princess who sang at her funeral, kicked off the show with a rendition of Your Song in front of giant black and white photographs of Diana beamed onto the stage backdrop.

He was followed by veterans Duran Duran, younger acts The Feeling, Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Lily Allen and US rapper Pharrell Williams and The English National Ballet, a favourite of Diana's.

The princes organised the event to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother's death and to celebrate her humanitarian work, which they felt had been forgotten amid negative press.

"After 10 years there's been a rumbling of people bringing up the bad and over time people seem to forget or have forgotten all the amazing things she did," Prince William said before the gig, the proceeds of which go to charity.

Fans at the newly refurbished Wembley stadium agreed.

"I camped out in London for her funeral, so I really wanted to be here today. She was a caring person who always thought of others," said Julie Rocks.

Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland called Princess Diana a "great icon of giving", while the princes praised their mother on what would have been her 46th birthday.

"This evening is about all that our mother loved in life - her music, her dance, her charities and her family and friends," Prince William, 25, said, to a standing ovation.

Prince Harry, 22, paid tribute to his fellow soldiers serving in Iraq. The third in line to the throne had been due to be deployed in Basra this year, but military commanders decided against sending him there, deeming it too dangerous.

"I wish I was there with you. I'm sorry I can't be... stay safe," he said.

Security at the concert was heightened after two car bombs were found on Friday in central London and two suspects rammed a petrol-filled four-wheel-drive vehicle into Glasgow airport on Saturday in what police called a terrorist attack.

The six-hour show was broadcast to 145 countries and an estimated audience of 500 million people.

Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash provoked an unprecedented outpouring of grief from the normally reserved British and some commentators feared the concert could strike a mawkish note.