National stars such as Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, Michael Ball and Bonnie Tyler joined an audience of around 12, 000 people for a party in Cardiff Bay.

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He was also the guest at a Milliennium Stadium concert with Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones and singer Dame Shirley Bassey and Katherine Jenkins.

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It had already been confirmed that First Minister Carwyn Jones and singer Dame Shirley Bassey will be among Welsh mourners at Wednesday's ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

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When Jackson relayed what Jones had to say, Shirley reported later, his jaw dropped.

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Among the Welsh dignitaries attending the funeral will be First Minister Carwyn Jones and Welsh singers Dame Shirley Bassey and Katherine Jenkins.

BBC: Wales

Friday night's opening will include tributes to Dame Shirley Bassey, actress Sian Phillips, soprano Dame Gwyneth Jones, composer Alun Hoddinott and the late Richard Burton.

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To help drum up interest earlier in the day, Shirley had tipped off two reporters from The Washington Post to Jones's appearance.

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