Polar Prize salutes rock legends

Roger Waters and Nick Mason at the Stockholm Concert Hall

British rock group Pink Floyd received the prestigious Polar Music Prize for their "monumental contribution" to popular music at a ceremony in Sweden.

King Carl XVI Gustaf presented band members Nick Mason and Roger Waters with the award in Stockholm.

They share the prize - which is split between pop and classical musicians - with American soprano Renee Fleming.

The winners each receive one million kroner (£70,523) from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

Waters, 64, paid tribute to his 96-year old mother at the ceremony.

"If there is any humanity and empathy in my work, which I think there is, I would rather owe it to her," he said.

Renee Fleming thanked organizers for recognising the importance of culture

Renee Fleming was given the award "in recognition of her sublime unparalleled voice and unique stylistic versatility", judges said.

"Connoisseurs and the general public alike have been dazzled by the beauty of her soft and natural voice," they added.

The two-time Grammy winner appeared on the soundtrack to The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King.