Gary Barlow honoured with Music Industry Trust Award

(PA)

The Prince of Wales paid tribute to Gary Barlow as the Take That frontman was honoured at a prestigious music industry bash.

Sir Elton John presented Barlow with the Music Industry Trust Award.

In a video message recorded before he embarked on his tour of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, the Prince commended Barlow on his charitable endeavours, "not only for my Prince's Trust and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, but also for Comic Relief, Children In Need and many more".

He said: "Over the past 25 years, you have become one of the great stars of the British music industry and you are the very embodiment of that rare species, 'a national treasure"'.

Barlow, who penned a song with Andrew Lloyd Webber for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, was joined at the event, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, central London, by his Take That bandmates and fellow X Factor judges Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh.

Other stars in attendance included Kimberley Walsh and Alesha Dixon.

Barlow said: "I've been doing this for 22 years now, and the one thing that's more apparent to me than ever before is how much I love performing.

"To be able to do it, I feel really lucky, I never want to turn my back on it. It's so special when you get something like this, because it's recognised within the industry. I'm a lover of this industry, I'd do anything to protect it, and when you're given something from that industry, I'm honoured."

Previous winners of the award, which raised funds for Nordoff Robbins and The BRIT Performing Arts & Technology School, include Sir Elton and Kylie Minogue.

The Prince added: "It seems to me you inspire goodwill wherever you go and your appeal transcends the ages, a very rare feat if I may say so."

Presenting the award, Sir Elton said Barlow was a "thoroughly fine human being" who had come through bad times without any bitterness.

He said the jubilee concert was "one of the most incredible nights".

Sir Elton joked: "If you were gay I'd marry you."

Barlow said he was "delighted and humbled" to accept the award.

He said: "I've loved every minute of every moment" and added he had enjoyed "the lowlights as much as the highlights".

Barlow ended the night by performing a solo set including a cover version of Van Morrison's Moondance, before reuniting with Robbie Williams for his new single Candy.

Barlow was then joined on stage by his other three bandmates, before Williams came back for a rousing rendition of Never Forget.

PA