Queen to host glittering arts ceremony

The most sensational gathering ever of Britain's arts world will meet tonight as the Queen makes an unprecedented gesture of personal generosity to honour young artists.

She has contributed thousands of pounds of her own money towards prizes which she will present to the brightest young British talents in the arts to mark her Golden Jubilee, at a special ceremony at the Royal Academy of Arts.

The one-off Golden Jubilee Awards will see five £10,000 prizes presented to rising talents from each of the Royal Academies. It is believed to be a unique gesture by the Queen to provide prize money. Buckingham Palace officials refused to state the exact amount.

The award winners, from the worlds of music, visual arts, drama, dance and directing, will hear a citation giving the reasons why they are being honoured. The citations will be read from leading figures in their field including Sir Michael Gambon, David Hockney and Sam Mendes, before the recipients are given their prize by the Queen and a trophy designed by Jasper Conran.

Each of the winners, whose names are being kept secret until the ceremony, are young and talented artists who would be unable to pursue their careers without the prizes.

They were selected by the Royal Academies of Arts, Dance, Dramatic Arts and Music, and one prize - for directing - will be split between two recipients. The ceremony will be followed by a reception featuring the most glittering array of talents from the worlds of art, photography, design, drama, dance, literature, architecture, and television and radio.

It will embrace an unprecedented gathering of 13 Dames from the world of the arts. Dames Shirley Bassey, Cleo Laine, Vera Lynn, Beryl Bainbridge, Eileen Atkins, Beryl Grey, Antoinette Sibley, Felicity Lott, Josephine Barstow, Vivienne Duffield, Anne Evans, Drue Heinz and Gillian Weir - along with Dame Edna Everage - will pose for a photograph to be taken by Lord Lichfield. Only one invited dame will be missing: Maggie Smith, currently filming the next Harry Potter film.

Preparations for the Royal Academy's annual summer show have been suspended for the first time in its 311-year history to allow the champagne reception to go ahead at Burlington House.

Conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, composer Sir Malcolm Arnold and soprano Dame Josephine Marstow will join rock legends including Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Brian May. Designers Stella McCartney and Nicole Farhi will represent fashion, while artists will include Patrick Caulfield, Sir Christopher Frayling and Paul Huxley.

Among the authors are Martin Amis and JK Rowling, while Griff Rhys Jones and Victoria Wood represent the world of comedy. Some of the guests will also perform, including musician Jools Holland and students at the Royal Academy of Dance.

Organiser Belinda Harley said the Royal Academy was overjoyed to be recipients of the Queen's generosity. "It is an inspiration to patrons and sponsors, and even government," she said. "It throws light on the fact that the arts are one of the national assets that we must look after and preserve."

Members of the Royal Family who will accompany the Queen tonight will include Prince Philip, the Duke of Kent, Lord and Lady Linley, and Lady Helen Taylor.

The amazing array of guests