Stars gather to honour late broadcaster Sir David Frost

Sir David Frost died last August at the age of 74. Credit: PA Wire

British royalty and stars of showbusiness gathered to celebrate the life and work of Sir David Frost in a memorial service at Westminster Abbey today.

The Prince of Wales was joined by Sir Michael Parkinson, Joanna Lumley, Ronnie Corbett and more than 2,000 other guests to pay tribute to the broadcaster who died last August aged 74.

Sir Michael Parkinson told ITV News Correspondent Nina Nannar that Sir David's "most remarkable gift was friendship".

"He would have loved it, of course he would have loved it. It was great fun, all his friends were there and it was just a reminder of the remarkable man he was."

Actress Joanna Lumley described the late broadcaster as the "most exceptional man" who was "adored by everybody".

She also recalled Sir David's famous summer parties where the "tops of the roofs were bristling with machine guns because there were so many presidents - it was fabulous".

"He brought in this extraordinary era of this slightly cynical and satirical way of looking at the news and of our leaders - he changed broadcasting," she added.

Prince Charles was joined by Sir David's widow, Lady Carina Fitzalan-Howard, to lay flowers on a memorial stone dedicated to the broadcaster.

Flowers lie next to a memorial stone for Sir David Frost. Credit: PA Wire

The memorial was also attended by well-known figures including Pippa Middleton, Rowan Atkinson, Michael Caine and Sienna Miller.

Ronnie Corbett, who worked with Sir David in the 1960s, was among those reading prayers during the service.

Two of Sir David's sons delivered poems during the service while Lumley gave a comic tribute to the broadcasting great.

Ronnie Corbett pays tribute to the late broadcaster during the service at Westminster Abbey. Credit: ITV News

The service also included a montage of highlights from Frost's famous broadcasting career which included his famous Nixon interviews and Tony Blair's surprised reaction when he asked him if he and George Bush pray together.

Read: In pictures: Sir David Frost's famous interviewees

The Duchess of Cornwall leaves following a service to celebrate the life of Sir David Frost at Westminster Abbey. Credit: PA Wire
Princess Beatrice of York, Sarah Ferguson and the Duke of York arrive. Credit: PA Wire

Others including comedian David Walliams, Julian Fellowes, Terry Wogan, Claudia Winkleman, Sue Lawley, Esther Rantzen, Stephen Fry, Anne Robinson, John Sergeant and Angus Deayton all came to pay tribute to the broadcasting great.

Pippa Middleton was also at the service. Credit: PA Wire

Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke gave a humorous tribute to Sir David and his "unique" talents.

The attendees laughed when Dyke revealed that when Carina, before she became his wife, was asked after she first met Sir David whether he was a religious man, she replied: "Oh yes, he's very religious. He thinks he's God."

Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke gave a humorous tribute to Sir David. Credit: ITV News

He added: "He was a self-confessed workaholic but also he was David the friend, David the father and David, Carina's husband."

He joked that the service, which ended with bells ringing, looked "remarkably like one of David's summer parties but without the alcohol".

Former Prime Minister John Major attended the service. Credit: PA Wire
Rowan Atkinson pictured at the event.
Michael Caine and wife Shakira. Credit: PA Wire

Read: David Frost will be remembered as a 'giant' of television