Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has had to disappoint the Prince of Wales in order to have a pain-relieving emergency operation.

Ozzy needs an operation to adjust a surgical plate that was implanted in him following injuries sustained in a quad bike accident at his Buckinghamshire home last year. He broke eight ribs, his collarbone and a vertebra in his neck.

Sharon and Kelly Osbourne will appear on stage at the Royal Variety Performance tonight to pass on his apologies for his absence.