Prince Wows UK Crowd Like It's...2007

Multi-award-winning musician Prince wowed over 3,000 music lovers at the Hop Farm festival as he played his first UK show for four years.

The festival, near Paddock Wood, Kent, was this year extended to a third day with his inclusion on the bill.

Prince last dazzled UK audiences when he played a 21-date residency at London's O2 Arena in 2007.

After casually strolling on to the stage more than half an hour late, the diminutive singer told the crowd: "I'm so happy to see you."

Dressed from head to toe in a cream-coloured outfit, with his collar turned up and a large gold necklace, he added: "This is real music, we are real musicians."

He got the party atmosphere started by singing 1999 along with other well-known hits such as Raspberry Beret and Nothing Compares 2 U, famously covered by Sinead O'Connor .

Prince, who famously dropped his name to be known as a symbol for a period during the 1990s, said: "We're on tour all summer. I wish you could just follow me, I love this crowd."

Backed by a mainly female band, Prince also performed classics Purple Rain and Kiss during his two-hour set.

As he came back on to the stage for the first of two encores, he joked: "Do you know how many hits we have?"