The First Night of the Proms began with a moving tribute to those who lost their lives in the Nice truck attack.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra was originally billed to play Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet overture to open Proms season, the broadcaster reported.
But following the horrific attack on the French city of Nice, which saw at least 84 killed and 202 injured, there was a change of plan.
Instead of Romeo and Juliet, the orchestra played La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.
Many audience members stood in remembrance as the tune was played and responded with rapturous applause at its conclusion.
Proms director David Pickard told the BBC that the decision was taken on Friday morning to change the opening number to the anthem.
The attack took place as crowds gathered along the Promenade des Anglais to celebrate Bastille Day.
La Marseillaise is often sung on Bastille Day, which commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, by revolutionaries.
Many people praised the decision to play the anthem...
The self-proclaimed Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday evening and a number of people have been arrested.
The group’s Amaq news outlet said that the attack had been carried out by a “soldier of IS”, according to reports.