It has become as much a part of the British summer as Wimbledon, Henley and fickle weather.
And yesterday Glastonbury was back for the first time in three years. Little seemed to have changed since the last music festival in 2019 as the crowd of 200,000 gathered at Worthy Farm in Somerset.
Certainly there was no sign that rail union strikers had managed to frustrate fans’ efforts to get to the site.
Among the 101 bars, 100 stages and 500 marquees, there were typically long queues for the loo, yoga workshops and naturists with little more than body paint or bag straps to cover their modesty.
One groom-to-be, clad in a bucket hat, surprised his partner by dropping to one knee while revellers clapped and smiled at the opening of Glastonbury
After the bride-to-be accepted the proposal, the pair hugged while onlookers gave them a round of applause
Another couple were all smiles as they got engaged after the groom-to-be wore a T shirt with the words ‘Will you marry me’ written on the front, while surprised loved ones looked on
Lucy Barnes and Ben O’Hara got engaged right in the centre of a crowd who filmed the special moment on their phones as Lucy said ‘yes’
People in the crowd punched the air and cheered for Lucy and Ben as she accepted his proposal
And there was an outbreak of engagement fever, with at least four men popping the question, including two who got down on one knee in front of the Glastonbury sign and triggered raucous cheers as their partners said yes.
Lucy Barnes accepted Ben O’Hara’s marriage proposal on Wednesday evening as the sun set in front of a watching crowd.
Another man, Liam, proposed to partner Fern early in the festival ‘so he didn’t have to carry around the ring box’, friends said.
Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis, whose father Michael founded the festival, said: ‘I genuinely think the best people in the world come here.
‘Bands always say this audience is the most generous, respectful and up-for-it crowd there is.’
Miss Eavis added: ‘We’ve definitely been through some financial struggles. It’s been very hairy. People forget that we’re still an independent festival.
‘It’s a long road for us to recover from the last two years, but the important thing is that we’re back.’
Glastonbury organisers revealed yesterday that 138,000 revellers bought tickets and 67,000 staff were in attendance.
Last night Mr Eavis, 86, performed on stage with his band – following on from a DJ set by former Spice Girl Mel C.
Headline acts of this year’s music extravaganza include Billie Eilish, rapper Kendrick Lamar and Sir Paul McCartney, with Diana Ross filling the Sunday Teatime Legends slot.
One man Liam proposed to his partner Fern right at the beginning of the festival – saying he did so early on so he didn’t have to carry the engagement ring around with him for the next five days
Luckily for Liam, Fern accepted the proposal, meaning he no longer had to worry about keeping an eye on the ring for the rest of the festival
The couple shared a kiss for the camera after the bride-to-be accepted the proposal
After the happy couple confirmed their engagement loved ones rushed to congratulate them
Happy revellers embraced after the engagement of their loved ones was confirmed, with smiles and happy tears all round
After accepting the proposal, the bride-to-be donned a T shirt that appeared to ask Mel C to make an appearance on her wedding day
Sir Paul will hold a warm-up gig in nearby Frome before his headline performance on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury on Saturday night, it was announced yesterday.
Fans queued around the car park at the Cheese and Grain venue in the hope of securing tickets after it was announced they could only be bought in person.
The ex-Beatle will become Glastonbury’s oldest-ever solo headliner when he takes to the stage only a week after celebrating his 80th birthday.
But British band Wolf Alice, who were due to perform on the Pyramid Stage today, will not make it after their flights from Los Angeles were cancelled.
Glastonbury last took place in 2019, with the 50th anniversary festival in 2020 cancelled due to Covid. The last time it took a break that long was back in the 1970s.
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