HRH Queen Elizabeth II meets Sir Paul McCartney at a special 'Celebration of the Arts' event at the Royal Academy of Arts In London

Bono, Joan Collins and Sir Paul McCartney have led the praise for the Queen as she attended a Diamond Jubilee celebration of the arts.

Hundreds of celebrities from the worlds of music, dance and art gathered to pay tribute to the Queen at the Royal Academy of Arts in central London.

Sir Paul declared that he was a “huge fan” of the Queen.

Irish musician Bono made a room full of celebrities cheer when he praised the Queen for her trip to Ireland last year.

Addressing the Queen, Bono said: “I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary magic that you made on your trip to Ireland last year.”

He joked: “And the Queen spoke Gaelic, I can’t even speak Gaelic.”

She met Sir Paul and his wife Nancy Shevell as she toured the galleries of the Academy.

The former Beatle said: “It is always wonderful meeting her, she’s great.

“It is always a great pleasure meeting her, I’m a big fan.”

In another room the Queen met Dame Shirley Bassey and Joan Collins. “I’m such a great admirer of her,” said Collins.

Read more: http://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/showbiz-news/2012/05/23/sir-paul-leads-praise-for-the-queen/#ixzz1vjFssj00