London - Sir Paul McCartney joined a chorus of stars last night to sing "Let It Be" in an emotional tribute to his late wife Linda.
The charity concert, for an audience of 5,000 at London's Royal Albert Hall, was to raise money for animal welfare causes supported by Linda McCartney, who died of breast cancer a year ago.
The former Beatle teamed up with Elvis Costello, George Michael and the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde to perform "Let It Be".
Clearly touched by the standing ovation he received when he took the stage, McCartney, 56, said in a shaky voice he had not thought he would be able to attend the show when it was first suggested by Hynde, one of Linda's closest friends.
He had doubted whether the public strength of feeling was there. But he said the number of letters he received from fans convinced him otherwise.
"We could see there was a power there", he said, "She's with us, she's loving it."
He dedicated his songs, which also included his 1963 hit "All My Loving", to "my beautiful baby and our beautiful children who are here tonight".
The performance was his second in two years. The other was a brief appearance in the United States at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction last month.
Pop star George Michael paid tribute to Linda and said there was another reason for him performing.
"My mother lost the same fight, the same battle that Linda lost," said Micahel, who sung the Beatles' "The Long And Winding Road" and "Eleanor Rigby", as well as his own hit, "Faith", for which he was joined by seven guitarists.
Linda McCartney, a professional photgrapher, was a passionate supporter of animal welfare and launched a successful vegetarian food empire.