Stars celebrate Mandela's 90th

Updated 14.21 Thu Jun 26 2008

Keywords: Will Smith, Gordon Brown, Bill Clinton, 90th birthday, Nelson Mandela

A host of stars including Oprah Winfrey and Robert De Niro joined Nelson Mandela in celebrating his 90th birthday.

Mr Mandela hosted a private dinner party in London's Hyde Park with more than 520 special guests in attendance.

"I just don't know anybody who deserves this more or anybody who we should be gathered around literally at his feet to say thank you for all that he has given the world" - Oprah Winfrey

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former US president Bill Clinton were also there to pay tribute.

The guests were full of praise for Mr Mandela, including wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, Cherie Blair, who said: "I can assure you that the honour is all ours."

US chat show host Oprah Winfrey added: "What is so special is that you spend 27 years in prison, you come out and you do the thing that everyone thought was impossible to do, become president of the nation and change the way people feel about Africa, and then you get to live to celebrate 90.

"I just don't know anybody who deserves this more or anybody who we should be gathered around literally at his feet to say thank you for all that he has given the world."

The fundraising dinner party is just one of a week-long series of UK events in honour of Mr Mandela's 90th birthday, with the highlight coming on Friday with a star-studded concert.

The event will feature acts such as Queen, Annie Lennox and Leona Lewis and will also be staged in Hyde Park.