Michael in London

Saturday, 10-Apr-99 13:11:56

TOP STORE HOSTS KING OF POP

Thousands of shoppers at Harrods got a huge surprise when king of pop Michael Jackson music arrived to take a look around.

Crowds of curious onlookers amassed outside the front entrance in London's Knightsbridge to catch a glimpse of the superstar who pulled up in a blacked-out Rolls-Royce to be greeted by store owner Mohammed Al Fayed.

And there were gasps as Jacko stepped out of the green vehicle to be escorted into the store.

He and Mr Al Fayed had flown into Stansted together on a private plane from New York in the early hours of Saturday.

Jackson arrived for his store tour dressed from head to toe in a black embroidered suit, black boots and shoulder-length black hair, the only flash of colour the distinctive red and black armband on his right arm.

Appearing shy behind mirrored sunglasses, he

nevertheless smiled broadly as he toured the ground floor with Mr Al Fayed.

Surrounded by a phalanx of security guards, the pair then made their way to the Egyptian escalator to visit the memorial to Dodi Fayed and Diana, Princess of Wales situated in the store's basement.

Jackson said little during the visit but when the ever-growing tour party paused in the perfume

department to listen to Rhian William playing a large gold harp he walked over and personally requested she play Greensleeves.

He then listened intently, smiled and followed the musical score himself. At the end of the rendition he said: "I just love that", and clapped with the whole party before continuing the whistlestop tour.

Scenes in the store began to resemble the Pied Piper story as hundreds of fans formed a line snaking through the departments and Jackson occasionally waved as screams of "Michael, Michael" accompanied him wherever he went.

Michael then went on to watch Wigan (where I live, oh my God! I still can't believe that!) v. Fulham. In case you're interested, Wigan lost 2-0.