Annie Lennox, Lionel Richie and the Bee Gees were the stars for 4,000 guests who paid up to £1,500 to hear the eclectic line-up.

Ozzy Osbourne, the wild man of rock, vied with Will Young, the clean-cut pop idol, and boy band McFly for the affections of the crowd, where champagne-quaffing mothers and lightstick-shaking children made up a large part of the numbers.

The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Princes William and Harry took their seats in the royal box, while behind them Sharon and Kelly Osbourne mingled. Other guests included the serene-looking magician David Blaine, fresh from his underwater record attempt in New York.

The concert, held at the Tower of London, is the showpiece of the trust’s anniversary fundraising effort. Held days after Charles admitted in an interview with Sir Trevor McDonald that he was a “nuisance” in public life, the concert is part of the prince’s efforts to help the less fortunate. This year the trust hopes to raise more than £50m for troubled youngsters or those from poor families across the country.

But last night was a gold-plated event. Even the Portaloos — equipped with maroon carpets, boxes of tissues and porcelain figurines of dragoons — showed the event’s pedigree. The cheapest burgers cost £5.

Tickets — named ruby, sapphire, emerald and diamond packages — ranged up to £1,500, including admission to an after-show party in the White Tower.

The concert began with a brief rendition of God Save the Queen sung by an all-black choir, before the Bee Gees warmed the crowd up with Jive Talking and the toe-tapping You Should Be Dancing.

The royal contingent, accompanied by Sir Michael Peat, Charles’s principal private secretary, stayed calm through the early acts. But when Embrace, composers of England’s World Cup song, took the stage, William indulged in some rhythmic head-nodding.

The band’s singer, Danny McNamara, said: “They seem really nice lads and looked as if they were enjoying themselves.”

At the end, Charles came on stage to thank the performers and his trust’s staff and volunteers. He was holding the fluorescent tube he had been given earlier.

“It’s at moments like this I wish I could sing,” the prince said. “I know my limitations, but at least I have my glowstick.”

• Seven thousand supporters of foxhunting gathered at a Berkshire castle yesterday to hear Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and Brian Ferry perform in aid of the Countryside Alliance.

  Arkangel, an animal rights website, called the performers “geriatric rockers” who are “supporting cruelty”.

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