Sir Paul McCartney last night told how his late wife Linda's "spirit lives on" through the couple's "beautiful kids", as the three surviving Beatles gathered to pay tribute to her memory.
Many of the most famous names in the show business world turned out for a celebration of her life at a central London church.
A crowd of around 1,000 braved the wind and rain to gather near St Martin-In-The Fields Church to watch the celebrities come and go, as well as remembering Sir Paul's wife of 29 years.
Candles lit the interior of the imposing 18th century building and flowers decorated the altar and aisles as guests heard music and readings.
In an emotional off-the-cuff speech Sir Paul told guests how he was first attracted to Linda after he saw "a light in her eyes". "As a lover she was one of the best," he said. "She was comfortable, she was never difficult. We had a lot of fun making those babies.
"She was one of the kindest people - a lot of people have written to me to say how kind she was. She just made you feel good to be yourself."
"Through our kids, our beautiful kids, her spirit lives on," he added.
The service opened with Mull of Kintyre - Linda and Sir Paul's number one hit with their band Wings - performed by a lone piper, John McGeachy of the Campbeltown Pipe Band, who played on the original single.
The Brodsky Quartet performed two sets of songs which Sir Paul had written about his wife during his long career.
The song My Love brought tears to the eyes of many of the guests.
The congregation - which included Sir Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Pete Townsend of The Who and the "fifth Beatle" Sir George Martin - all sang The Beatles' hit Let It Be.
There were addresses from the former Abbey Road studios head, Mr Ken Townsend, Linda's close friend and animal rights campaigner, Ms Carla Lane, and Pete Townshend. Joanna Lumley read Death Is Nothing At All by Henry Scott Holland and the celebrity photographer David Bailey read the Spike Milligan poem Lyric.
As celebrities emerged from church in a hail of camera flashbulbs, the focus of the vigil shifted. Ms Lane was mobbed as she spoke to campaigners at the vigil. She said: "The vigil outside would have meant everything to Linda, she would not want it any other way, it is wonderful, just wonderful but I knew they would be here."