US pop icon Prince has helped kick off the Brit Awards, presenting singer Ellie Goulding with the British Female Solo Artist award at a glittering ceremony in London.
The diminutive Purple Rain star -on tour in the UK - thanked London for making him feel "extra special loved," adding it had been "wonderful", before posing for a "selfie" with host James Corden.
On receiving her Brit - considered to be the UK's equivalent of a Grammy - Goulding, said: "Prince! Thank you so much I am genuinely in shock."
The 27-year-old singer, who performed at Prince William's post-wedding party, scored her first UK number one last year with hit single Burn.
Sheffield four-piece Arctic Monkeys opened proceedings with a live performance of R U Mine? from their critically-acclaimed fifth album AM before being named Best British Group for the third time.
Frontman Alex Turner joked that he had lost money, having bet on teen heartthrobs One Direction for the award.
Fresh from his Superbowl appearance, US singer-songwriter Bruno Mars claimed the International Male Solo Artist award before performing on stage at the cavernous O2 venue.
French electronic duo Daft Punk won best international group.
David Bowie, 67, could become the oldest recipient of an award having been nominated in the best British Male Solo Artist and Album categories.
Bowie made an unexpected comeback last year with album The Next Day, and is tipped to win an award for the first time since 1984.
The current oldest winner is Welsh crooner Tom Jones, who received an honorary prize for his outstanding contribution to music in 2003, aged 62.
Bowie is ranked the 1/3 odds-on favourite by bookmakers to beat James Blake, Tom Odell, John Newman and Jake Bugg - who are all at least 40 years younger than him.
It would be only Bowie's second proper win at the Brits - besides his 1984 award, his only other title was an honorary one in 1996 for his outstanding contribution to British music.
If Bowie turns up to collect his prize at the O2 Arena in London it would be a huge surprise as he has kept an enigmatically low profile in New York for the past decade.
There was no sign of the glam-rock pioneer among the early red carpet arrivals, which included One Direction - favourites for the best video prize for their single "Best Song Ever" - rockers Arctic Monkeys, Australia's Kylie Minogue and Lily Allen.
The best video award will be decided by social media for the first time at the Brits, with voting open to fans around the world as the show will be screened on YouTube in a bid to boost its international status.
With almost 18 million followers on Twitter, Harry Styles and his One Direction bandmates have a clear advantage.
Katy Perry and Bruno Mars both performed live, and were due to be followed on stage by Pharrell Williams, who provided the vocals behind Daft Punk's global smash hit "Get Lucky".
