Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis does not touch a drop of alcohol for two months before hosting the world’s biggest greenfield festival on his dairy farm in Somerset. But last night the 77-year-old was raising a champagne toast to another vintage year which brought sunshine, Prince Harry – and, of course, the Rolling Stones.

Speaking at his farmhouse on a hill overlooking the Pyramid stage as the festival drew to a close, Eavis declared himself “absolutely thrilled” and made his ritual declaration that “this really is the best festival we’ve ever done”.

“It’s the best thing. It has to be doesn’t it? Forty-three years of me; 50 years of them and we’ve finally come together. We’re on the same page at last. Isn’t that brilliant?”

The Pilton farmer spoke of finally securing the Stones as if they were lovers attempting to mend a broken relationship: “The whole razzamatazz and the whole occasion of us two finally getting together at long last. I had to prove myself to them,” he said. “But the Stones wanted to be here. That was the point. We’ve always wanted them.”

More than 100,000 people heaved in front of the Pyramid stage to catch a glimpse of the band’s two-hour Saturday night set. Strutting around on stage in a green sequinned jacket, Sir Mick Jagger joked: “After all these years they finally got round to asking us.”

A huge fire-breathing phoenix rose over the stage during Sympathy for the Devil, to the delight of the crowds.

Rumours of surprise sets by Daft Punk and David Bowie never materialised, and reports that US country singer Taylor Swift would join the Stones for part of their set turned out to be unfounded.

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