Madonna kicked off her highly anticipated Celebration Tour 20 minutes late on Saturday evening after rescheduling her shows due to a serious health scare.
The Queen of Pop is performing at the O2 Arena in Greenwich with a setlist highlighting her music from her 40-year career.
But although the show was due to start at 8.30pm, the show kicked off around 20 minutes late while a drag queen entertained the crowd.
Madonna, who is wearing a stunning jewelled headdress, was then hit by technical issues and the show was paused shortly after it began.
The singer, 65, spoke to her fans between songs, gushing: ‘Oh my god it’s so good to be back London. I am pretty damn surprised I made it this far.
Performance: Madonna kicked off her highly anticipated Celebration Tour 20 minutes late on Saturday evening
She’s back: The Queen of Pop is performing at the O2 Arena in Greenwich with a setlist highlighting her music from her 40-year career
‘I mean this on so many levels. How did I make it this far. Because of you. But I will take a bit of credit too.
‘It’s so nice to see you again and be back. I will tell you my story of life but through music.’
She has so far performed hits such as Live To Tell, Holiday and Nothing Really Matters.
It comes after it was reported Madonna is reportedly set to take her upcoming Celebration Tour ‘at a slower pace’ following a serious health scare in June.
The singer was forced to postponed her shows as she was treated for acute septic shock, but officially restarted rehearsals in August.
An insider told The Mirror she is taking things ‘at slower pace’ and has ‘taken up boxing lessons’ – thanks to her new boyfriend Josh Popper, 29 – as well as yoga and weekly vitamin injections to aid recovery.
The icon was rushed to the ICU and intubated after being found slumped on the floor of her New York City apartment.
Her family, who rushed to her bedside, were said to have been ‘preparing for the worst’ and ‘feared we may lose her’.
Getting ready: Fans arrive at North Greenwich Station close to the O2 Arena in Greenwich
With Madonna unable to make the decision herself, they had to choose to put off the much-anticipated tour.
She was given an injection of the drug Narcan – commonly used to reverse suspected drug overdoses – to combat acute septic shock before she was rushed on to hospital, reported Radar Online.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection. These chemicals damage the body’s own tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death.
Bacteria can enter through cuts, wounds and the digestive system, among other areas. Sepsis is triggered when the bacteria gets into the bloodstream.
Doctors told DailyMail.com that Madonna looked worn down, thin and exhausted in the days before she nearly died from the serious infection.
After reviewing photos taken in the days before her illness, doctors said she looked ‘exhausted’ and appeared ‘thin’.
Her skin also appears pale, which may be a sign of exhaustion said Dr Stuart Fischer, who has more than 40 years of medical experience.
In a photo, posted to Instagram four days before her hospitalisation with the caption ‘the calm before the storm’, she was shown lying on the floor while wearing a black jumpsuit and fishnet tights.
Dr Fischer, who is also a former emergency care doctor in New York City, told DailyMail.com after viewing the photos that she was clearly ‘exhausted’.
‘She looks exhausted,’ he said.
‘Intense rehearsing and the stress associated with large-scale performances are undoubtedly risks for immunosuppression and unwanted health issues.
‘It’s the responsibility of the physician to point this out. Just because someone is an international celebrity doesn’t mean they’re invulnerable.’
Following her hospitalisation Madonna took over the Nassau Coliseum in New York City in August to prepare for the global tour.
She then secretly hired out a UK arena as she rehearsed for her upcoming Celebration Tour, according to a report.
The legendary singer splashed out on Manchester’s AO venue for some ‘intense, last-minute rehearsals’ to make sure every thing goes to plan.
Joined by her army of backing dancers, Madonna and her team prepared for her first night at London’s O2 Arena.
Recovery: The singer was forced to postponed her shows as she was treated for acute septic shock, but officially restarted rehearsals in August (pictured in 2022)
In a photo, posted to Instagram four days before her hospitalisation she was shown lying on the floor as Doctors told DailyMail.com that Madonna looked worn down, thin and exhausted
She had less than 48 hours until show time after gaining access to the O2 due to Blink 182’s tour, whereas she would usually practice at the whole week before.
A source told The Sun: ‘Madonna’s tour will be epic. She is now locked in full rehearsal days, some of which are 12 hours long.
‘The stage is the most elaborate that she has ever taken on the road.
‘The tour is a celebration of her record-breaking career, so every- thing has to be perfect.’
