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The Duchess of Cornwall attends the Classical Brit Awards

3rd May 2007

The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Classical Brit Awards this evening and declared it a “fantastic” occasion.

The glamorous event at the Royal Albert Hall was attended by stars of the classical music world including singers Sarah Brightman, Katherine Jenkins and Bryn Terfel.

The Duchess is a keen supporter of the arts and is Patron of the London Chamber Orchestra, St Johns, Smith Square, and the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra. Click here to find out more about Her Royal Highness's patronages.

Onstage, Her Royal Highness presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to conductor Dr Vernon Handley CBE who, for more than 40 years, has distinguished himself as a champion of British classical music.

Many of the world’s finest classical musicians performed during the ceremony, including American violinist Joshua Bell, mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, choral quartet All Angels and the Fron Male Voice Choir.

Sting and the lutenist Edin Karamazov performed music from their new album Songs From the Labyrinth and The London Chamber Orchestra, of which Her Royal Highness is Patron, accompanied all performers at the event, under the baton of Christopher Warren-Green.

Sir Paul McCartney won the Best Album award for Ecce Cor Meum (Behold my Heart), which was a decade in the making and a tribute to his first wife Linda who died of breast cancer in 1998.

Violinist Ruth Palmer, 28, was named Young British Classical Performer of the Year.

Russian soprano Anna Netrebko won the Singer of the Year award, while Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes won Instrumentalist of the Year.

The BBC's Planet Earth series earned George Fenton the Soundtrack Composer of the Year Award.

Sting, Katherine Jenkins and mechanic-turned-tenor Alfie Boe were among the performers, while the award presenters included newsreader Katie Derham, singer Sarah Brightman and Sting's actress and producer wife, Trudie Styler.

The Duchess met the stars and performers at a backstage reception.

Her Royal Highness told Sting she thought his performance of a song from his album of 16th Century lute music was "wonderful" and said: "I've never been to this event before and I think it's fantastic.”