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Glastonbury made a glorious return after three years as revellers resisted nationwide rail strikes and thunderstorm fears to bury memories of Covid at the world’s most iconic music festival.
An estimated 200,000 music fans flocked to Worthy Farm, east Somerset for the 37th iteration of Glasto, which is also the world’s biggest outdoor festival.
For the first time ever Glastonbury’s festivities started as early as Thursday, with thousands setting up camp by Tuesday.
This year’s headliners include Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish, who in her explosive Pyramid Stage set last night slammed the US Supreme Court‘s abortion rights overhaul.
Eilish, 20, last night made history as the youngest ever star to headline Glastonbury. She delivered a stellar medley of hits alongside big brother Finneas in an edgy look that consisted of an oversized T-shirt and matching shorts for tens of thousands of waiting fans.Â
Taking to the stage, she said it was a  ‘dark day for women’ following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade, as she took to the stage at the Glastonbury Festival on Friday.
The singer, 20, who first made her debut at the festival on The Other Stage at Worthy Farm in 2019, told the crowd she ‘couldn’t bear to think about’ the ruling which ended the constitutional right to abortion in the US, meaning individual states could decide whether abortion can be made illegal.
Also prominent at the festival were many partygate-themed ‘this is a work event’ flags ribbing Boris Johnson – a nod to the PM’s claim that lockdown-busting gatherings were not parties.Â
 And Sir Paul McCartney last night prepared for Glastonbury, one of the biggest gigs of his career, by playing one of the smallest.
Sir Paul, 80, delivered a preview of his Glastonbury set to an audience of around 800 at the Cheese and Grain – a not-for-profit venue in a former agricultural warehouse in the town of Frome in Somerset.
Fans had scrambled to pick up tickets in person after the secret gig was announced at 5pm on Thursday.
A young festivalgoer in matching pink sings along to Billie Eilish during the 20-year-old’s fiery Pyramid Stage set last night
Glastonbury made a glorious return after three years as revellers resisted nationwide rail strikes and thunderstorm fears to bury memories of Covid. The stage is pictured last night
Emotional: Billie Eilish said it’s been a ‘dark day for women’ following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade, as she took to the stage at the Glastonbury Festival on Friday
Another Billie fan sits on a pal’s shoulders as the emo icon played a stellar set of hits in a well-received Pyramid Stage debut
It’s back! Also seen returning to Glastonbury was the iconic fire-breathing spider stage known as Arcadia
Tens of thousands gathered to watch Wet Leg play the Park Stage, out of an estimated 200,000 to have arrived at Glasto
A pair of brightly coloured fans cheer on TLC at the West Holts stage yesterday, looking pleased to be back after three years
One brightly coloured flag even featured a picture of Mr Johnson the day after he suffered two damaging defeats in the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton
Legs for days: Sienna, 40, exhibited her bronzed pins in a brown mini dress, while accessorising her look with a pair of black boots
Commanding attention: The blonde bombshell later made a spectacular wardrobe change into an unmissable red coat and matching trousers featuring white stripes. She was joined by her younger boyfriend Oli Green, 25
The emo icon prowled across the stage and bent over backwards, earning a deafening reception from her fans before telling the crowd: ‘Oh boy, I love you so much.’
Adopting an English accent, she added: ‘How are you doin?’
Paul McCartney will play tonight’s coveted Saturday night set, with US rapper Kendrick Lamar closing out the festival tomorrow evening.
Showers hit the festival yesterday morning – and there are fears of heavy rain tomorrow and showers on Sunday afternoon.
And celebrities weren’t just spotted on stage, either. A-listers including Kate Moss, Games of Thrones actors Kit Harington and his wife Rose Leslie, model Daisy Lowe and Love Island host Laura Whitmore were among the VIPs pictured yesterday at Worthy Farm.
Glastonbury’s famous flags returned to Worthy Farm for the first time since 2019 after the fest’s 50th anniversary was canned
IDLES lead singer Lee Kiernan is pictured crowd surfing with a blue electric guitar in hand during yesterday’s packed-out set
A young fan in a glittering gold dress and pink coat enjoys Billie’s set last night. Paul McCartney will headline the stage tonight
Eilish (centre silhouette) amps up the crowd of tens of thousands as flamethrowers lit up the Pyramid Stage on Friday night
A group of Glastonbury Festival revellers set up their own shower at the campsite on Worthy Farm in Somerset yesterday
A pair of IDLES fans can barely contain their excitement as the British-Irish punk rock band played on the Other Stage
Festival goers make their way around the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset this morning
A group of festival-goers dressed as strawberries walk through the site during day three of Glastonbury Festival yesterday
Some revellers were pictured waving Partygate-themed flags ribbing Boris Johnson at the music festival.
Several flags read ‘this is a work event’ – a nod to the PM’s claim that lockdown-busting gatherings were not parties.Â
It comes after Mr Johnson suffered two damaging defeats in the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections.
Billie was among several stars who took to the stage on the third day of Glastonbury, with Griff taking to the John Peel stage at the festival.
The singer, 21, flashed her midriff in a quirky cream crop top featuring one sleeve which she teamed up with a frilled maxi skirt.
Music fans cheer on performers at one of the smaller stages during day three of the iconic outdoor festival yesterday
Edgy: The singer, 21, showcased her unique sense of style in a cream crop top featuring one sleeve which she teamed up with a frilled maxi skirt
Celeb audience: Kate Moss stood on the sidelines to watch Primal Scream with a group of pals at Glastonbury
Elsewhere, Sam Fender, 28, kept things casual in a red-and-blue checked shirt, which he layered above a navy shirt and jeans during his gig on the Pyramid Stage.
Completing her look with a pair of black shoes and white socks, she soon threw a guitar over her shoulders by its strap as she performed for a crowd of thousands.Â
The BRIT Award winner certainly seemed to be enjoying herself while belting out her catchy hits for the impressed audience
Meanwhile, TLC – consisting of bandmembers Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas – took to the West Holts stage.
Kit Harington and Rose Leslie attend day three of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Glastonbury yesterday afternoon
Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi take a stroll through the Glastonbury site on Friday afternoon
Model Daisy Lowe and her partner Jordan Saul were among several high-profile names spotted at the festival this afternoon
A characteristically stylish Sienna Miller and her young beau Oli Green attended day three of Glastonbury yesterday
Paul McCartney played a small surprise gig in nearby Frome, Somerset in the run-up to his big set tonight. Also pictured, right: McCartney’s wife Nancy Shevell
Love Island host Laura Whitmore strikes a pose as she arrived at a wet Glastonbury Festival on Friday afternoon
Model Tigerlilly Taylor was also spotted on Friday afternoon as the weather began to change at Glastonbury festival
Ms Ayres said: ‘A band of rain will push across Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England through the afternoon, reaching Glastonbury mid to late afternoon, bringing cooler and breezier conditions.
‘Showers will ease into Friday night and the band of rain will continue north-eastwards bringing some heavy bursts of rain at times.’
Tomorrow, the band of rain will weaken but showers will break out to the West and South West.
Festival goers in the rain during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset this morning
Festival goers make their way around the Glastonbury Festival site in Worthy Farm, Somerset, in the rain this morning
Revellers cheer as The Libertines perform on the Other Stage at Worthy Farm during the Glastonbury Festival today
A group of festival goers avoid the long queue for the showers by setting up their own facilities at Glastonbury this morning
Festival goers in the rain during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset this morningÂ
Festival goers make their way around the Glastonbury Festival site in Worthy Farm, Somerset, in the rain this morningÂ
YESTERDAY – Performers from the Notting Hill Carnival during a parade through the site on day two of Glastonbury yesterday
YESTERDAY – Festival goers during day two of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset yesterday
YESTERDAY – Festival goers dance in the warm weather at Glastonbury Festival on Worthy Farm in Somerset yesterdayÂ
Ms Ayres said some ‘could be locally heavy with a risk of local thunderstorms, especially in the south west, therefore risk of some heavy showers for Glastonbury.’
Northern Ireland and parts of western Scotland could see some longer spells of rain, with heavy bursts, while the north and west could experience strong winds with a risk of coastal gales.
For Sunday, Ms Ayres said: ‘Cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the northwest, this becoming more showery later on. Elsewhere a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers, some showers for Glastonbury into the afternoon, these heaviest in the south west.’
Strong winds continue in the north and west with a risk of coastal gales, mainly Northern Ireland, Wales and western Scotland, while it will be breezy elsewhere.
It comes as Billie Eilish will make history when she takes to the Pyramid Stage tonight as Glastonbury Festival’s youngest ever solo headliner.
The weather is set to be dry during her performance, despite the high chance of showers throughout the afternoon.
Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: ‘It’s going to be a fairly cloudy start to the morning.Â
‘There is going to be a few showers around but on the light side generally, so a bit of a cloudy, damp start to the day but quite a warm start with temperatures around 16C (61F). It does look like it will get drier and brighter as the morning goes on.
‘There will be a few glimmers of sunshine by the early afternoon but then it looks like into the early evening there is a band of rain that is coming from the west so around 4pm there will be some showery rain that will push eastwards across Glastonbury – but it should clear around about 7pm.
The crowd watch the Libertines on the Other Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset today
Festival goers in the rain during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset this morningÂ
Festival goers walk through the site at the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm in Somerset in the rain today
Revellers cheer as The Libertines perform on the Other Stage at Worthy Farm during the Glastonbury Festival today
Festival goers make their way around the Glastonbury Festival site in Worthy Farm, Somerset, in the rain this morningÂ
Festival goers in the rain during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset this morningÂ
A festival goer enjoys the music during day three of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset today
The Other Stage at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, opens with a message from Ukraine today
Musician Pete Doherty signs a fan’s arm at Worthy Farm in Somerset during the Glastonbury Festival today
‘The rest of the evening should be dry. If we get any sunshine it will be around 19C (66F) but compared to yesterday’s 24C (75F) it will be a cooler day.’
Grammy-winning singer Eilish, 20, will perform alongside her brother and co-writer, Finneas O’Connell.
The US pop star made her Glastonbury debut in 2019 when she performed on the Other Stage and treated crowds to a string of tracks such as Bad Guy and You Should See Me In A Crown.
In the weeks leading up to Glastonbury, Eilish has played a string of UK and European tour dates and also hosted a climate event, Overheated, at London’s O2 Arena.
She also topped the bill at Coachella in the US in April, bringing out guests Khalid and Damon Albarn for a set that thrilled fans and reviewers.
Eilish’s mother, Maggie Baird, said her daughter’s history-making set at Glastonbury is ‘definitely amazing but very hard to process at the same time’.
Baird, an actor, screenwriter and former theatre troupe teacher, told The Guardian: ‘It’s a very pinch-me moment. People always ask ‘How do you feel on this momentous day?’ But, as a parent, everything your kid does from the beginning is kind of amazing.
‘I was blown away when she was playing the little club in our tiny area of Highland Park (in Los Angeles). It just stays mind-blowing.’
On the day Eilish headlines Glastonbury, Sir Paul McCartney will be warming up for his headline slot tomorrow by performing at a Somerset music venue.
The surprise gig at the Cheese & Grain entertainment venue in Frome was announced yesterday, with ‘first come, first served’ tickets selling out in under an hour.
Sir Paul will also make history as Glastonbury Festival’s oldest ever solo headliner when he takes to the stage tomorrow.
The festival will see the former Beatle return to top the Pyramid stage bill for the second time after a performance in 2004.
It marks exactly a week after celebrating his 80th birthday and 60 years of music-making.
The music offering this year will also feature Kendrick Lamar headlining on Sunday, with Diana Ross filling the Sunday Teatime Legends slot.
Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said on Friday morning that the festival site is ‘looking amazing’ and ‘so beautiful’.
YESTERDAY – Some Glastonbury fans were spotted wearing daring outfits as they walked around Worthy Farm yesterday
YESTERDAY – Festival goers enjoy the Notting Hill Carnival parade during day two of Glastonbury in the sunshine yesterday
YESTERDAY – Naked festival-goers walk through the crowds during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm yesterday
YESTERDAY – Performers from the Notting Hill Carnival parade through the site during day two of Glastonbury yesterday
YESTERDAY – Festival-goers enjoy the sunshine on the second day of the Glastonbury Festival yesterday
YESTERDAY – A woman in a sequin swimsuit adorned in a large sequin coverup smiles at the Glastonbury Festival yesterday
She told BBC Radio 1: ‘The festival is basically happening now; everybody (has) arrived. There’s 100,000 people here and it’s just absolutely gorgeous. Seeing the valley full of tents and flags and people, it’s exactly how it should be. It’s a really good vibe down here.’
Mel C: Spice Girls would love to play Glastonbury
Melanie C said it would be ‘the dream’ for the Spice Girls to play at Glastonbury next year, adding she has a ‘good feeling’ band member Victoria Beckham would join them.
The 48-year-old singer, who played Spice Girl anthems Who Do You Think You Are and Spice Up Your Life during her Glastonbury DJ set at Williams Green stage yesterday evening, described the experience as ‘insane’.
Mel C plays a DJ set at the Williams Green Stage on day two of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset last night
She told BBC Breakfast: ‘I didn’t expect it to be as big as it was and as many people to be going as nuts as they did, it was a wonderful introduction to Glastonbury.
‘It’s amazing because the wonderful thing about Glastonbury is there is something for everyone, there is so many musical styles and when you drop a Spice Girls song you think: how is it going to go? But people loved it, it was wonderful.’
The singer, known as Sporty Spice, wore an ‘Alexa play Spice Girls’ t-shirt during her DJ set.
Talking about the Spice Girls playing at Glastonbury, she said: ‘It’s the dream, the absolute dream, we would love to do it.
‘The girls and I, we have chatted about it, it’s the biggest stage in the world, we have the best festival in the world right here.’
She added she has a ‘good feeling’ that Beckham, known as Posh Spice, would join them for the gig.
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Ms Eavis was speaking as day three of the musical festival dawned on Worthy Farm, where Eilish will make history.
Apart from Eilish, the line-up for the Pyramid Stage on Friday includes Sam Fender, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Crowded House, Rufus Wainwright and Wolf Alice – whose appearance hangs in the balance.
In the early hours of yesterday, the band tweeted to say they were stuck in Los Angeles because their flight had been cancelled.
In the evening they told fans they were waiting for a ‘flight to Seattle’ where they could then go directly to London.
Then this morning, Wolf Alice posted a video on their Instagram story which showed them on a plane, tagging Heathrow Airport, less than seven hours before their Glastonbury performance.
Ziggy Marley is Friday’s first performer of the day, on the Pyramid stage, starting at 12.15pm.
Other acts performing today include the Sugababes on the Avalon Stage, and Foals and St Vincent on the Other Stage, which also features performances today from Kae Tempest and The Libertines.
Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra will also mark their first performance in the UK since their win, with a performance of Shangri-La’s Truth Stage on today’s bill.
Meanwhile the Pet Shop Boys said today that they will bring ‘an element of theatre’ to their headline performance at Glastonbury and will be ‘pulling out all the stops’ on the Other Stage on Sunday.
The pop duo, comprising Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, told Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 that the secret to having a career spanning four decades is ‘still enjoying it’.
Tennant said: ‘Forty years ago we didn’t really used to tour and now we really enjoy touring and we are looking forward to Glastonbury, the energy level keeps you going.’
Lowe revealed he has a ‘nap room’ with a ‘fully made inflatable bed’ with the turn-around from being fully asleep to being on stage around 15 minutes.
Speaking about their upcoming Glastonbury appearance, Tennant said: ‘We always wanted to bring in an element of theatre, we have worked with a young designed called Tom Scutt, we met him three years ago and then we had the pandemic, and since then he has done the new production of Cabaret but people just look at you in a fresh way, so really you take on someone else’s perspective of you and that helps to keep it fresh.
‘We are pulling out all the stops for Glastonbury, there is going to be someone joining us for one song, it’s actually pretty obvious who it is, it’s quite exciting.’
The duo also revealed they wrote two albums’ worth of songs and a musical during lockdown, adapting the story by Hans Christian Andersen The Emperor’s New Clothes ‘into a Cabaret-type musical’, Tennant added.
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