GUITAR great Eric Clapton will be among stars at a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen tonight.

Other celebrity guests include Phil Collins, Brian May, Jools Holland, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Terry Wogan, Humphrey Lyttleton, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Dame Vera Lynn.

The all-star gathering is a royal tribute to Britain's music industry and follows an earlier children's concert at the Palace for 250 youngsters from schools in five London boroughs, alongside choristers from the Chapel Royal.

The so-called music theme day begins with a performance by Katie Melua, a graduate of the Brit School for the Performing Arts and Technology.

Two short Scottish pieces by the Master of the Queen's Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, will be performed by students from the Royal Academy of Music.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will then give a reception for performers and guests before the evening party for 500 celebrities and music industry representatives. Tweet