Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja was in top form at the Last Night of the Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night, in which he had the honour of leading the crowd in a rendition of Rule, Britannia in a show watched across the world.

The Proms – formally known as The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC – consist of eight weeks of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events. A total of 76 concerts took place this season, which began on 13 July.

The Last Night, however, is the most popular event, and is typically held in a light-hearted vein. The event starts out with a series of popular classics which are followed by British patriotic pieces, concluded with the British national anthem.

Traditionally, the patriotic pieces include Sir Henry Wood’s Fantasia on British Sea Songs, a medley of British sea songs that is concluded by Rule, Britannia. The full fantasia was dropped from the 2008 programme, but was reintroduced this year.

The audience – or prommers, as they are known – is encouraged to participate in the performance, including by singing the song’s famous refrain. Many prommers turn up with flags, fancy dress and noisemakers to add to the atmosphere.

But it was up to a Maltese tenor to lead the crowd at the culmination of this display of British pride. And although he was wearing a sports windbreaker with a Union Jack motif, the tenor displayed his own patriotism by sporting a top with a Maltese cross underneath. Accompanying him on stage were a number of British Olympic and Paralympic champions.

During the event, which was broadcast live by TVM, Calleja also got the crowds singing on another occasion, when he performed You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Earlier during the night, and in more formal attire, Calleja sang a number of popular classic numbers, including Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” and Lara’s “Granada”. His rendition of the former earned him a standing ovation from the orchestra and from the crowd.

A number of Maltese fans also turned up to show their support, leading to a handful of Maltese flags in the sea of Union Jacks.