Paralympics Closing Ceremony: Rihanna becomes a punk pirate princess as she covers up for Coldplay duet

Changed into black shorts and sheer top to perform Run This Town with Jay-Z and Coldplay
Performed the only non-Coldplay live performance of the night with her solo hit We Found Love

By Emily Sheridan, Louise Eccles and David Williams

PUBLISHED: 16:10 EST, 9 September 2012 | UPDATED: 03:59 EST, 10 September 2012

She's known for her raunchy wardrobe and showing off rather a lot of skin on stage.

But last night (Sunday), Rihanna covered up as she performed to the world at the Paralympics Closing Ceremony.

The Barbadian singer was announced as a 'special guest of Coldplay' as she entered the stadium on a punk pirate ship.

Scroll down to see the running order

Making an entrance: Rihanna 'sails' past the Paralympic athletes on a punk pirate ship as she performs at the Closing Ceremony

Pirate princess: Rihanna entered on a pirate ship as she belted out the opening bars of Princess of China

The singer had flown in specially to London to duet with frontman Chris Martin on their No.4 hit Princess Of China.

The 24-year-old wore a pair of drawstring orange trousers, sheer blouse and coat as she 'sailed' into the Olympic Stadium on the boat.

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At the beginning of the song, her vocals were drowned out by Chris and the music, before she gained strength later in the track.

'Special guest of Coldplay': Rihanna joined Chris Martin on stage halfway through the song

Don't look down! Rihanna was suspended in the air on a metal bench as she sang her own hit We Found Love

The entrance of Rihanna after eight Coldplay songs was no doubt a welcome relief for people who weren't fans of the rock band.

During the singer's duet with the band, Twitter was awash with comments of how covered up she was in her full-length outfit and questioning why a non-Brit was playing at the ceremony.

The previous opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics and opening ceremony for the Paralympics all included British singers and bands.

Turn up the music: The first part of Rihanna's duet with Coldplay was drowned out by the music and Chris's vocals

The pirate princess meets the prince of rock: Rihanna and Chris come together during their duet

Commanding the stage: A flash of her bra was the only risque part of the singer's performance

One Twitter user wrote: 'Rihanna has put some clothes on. This must be an important gig! #closingceremony.'

And another one tweeted: 'Rihanna isn't even British shouldn't even be there.'

Following her duet, Rihanna took a step back as Coldplay performed their song Strawberry Swing with the Para Orchestra, led by Charles Hazelwood.

Bow to your princess: Chris throws himself into the song during a passionate moment

Centre of the universe: The pair certainly got the 62,000 inside the stadium going

What would Gwyneth say? Rihanna gets close to a very sweaty Chris

She then returned to arena, seated on a metal bench suspended in the air as she sang her own hit We Found Love.

Before she went on, she said: ‘Being at the Paralympics is the biggest honour. These athletes are gladiators and are a true inspiration to me.’

Coldplay and Rihanna were paid the token sum of £1 for their appearances.

What a spectacle: Rihanna arrives in the stadium amidst streamers and ligths

Let's rock this joint: Jay-Z, Rihanna and Coldplay performed Run This Town

Bring it on: The trio perform with Coldplay guitarist Guy Berryman

Just hours before going on stage, she Tweeted cryptically: ‘B****** ain’t gettin money, but they got an opinion’, and, using the n-word, wrote, ‘Yea I’m talkin Rih, n**** I’m talkin me’.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, 35, who is married to Hollywood actress Gwenyth Paltrow, said: ‘Being asked to play at the closing celebrations for the Paralympic athletes in London is such a great honour for us.

‘It was one of the biggest nights of our lives and we were excited to try to create a performance for the last night of the games that closed London 2012 in style.’

Keeping her cool: Rihanna spiced things up in a sheer top, black bra and reflective shorts

Having fun: The trio looked like they were having a ball performing together

Who's that chick? Rihanna hid under a shall for her grand entrance

Epic: Rihanna and Coldplay were surrounded by dancers and athletes during their performance

Hold tight: Rihanna dangles off the bench attached by a safety harness

CLOSING CEREMONY RUNNING ORDER

1) Coldplay - Us Against The World

2) Coldplay - Yellow

3) Coldplay - Up In Flames

4) Coldplay - Paradise

5) Coldplay - 42

6) Coldplay - God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

7) Coldplay - Clocks

8) Coldplay - Charlie Brown

9) Coldplay and Rihanna - Princess Of China

10) Coldplay and the British Paraorchestra - Strawberry Swing

11) Rihanna - We Found Love

12) Coldplay - Viva La Vida

13) Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z - Run This Town

14) Coldplay feat Jay-Z - Paradise

15) Coldplay - The Scientist

16) Coldplay - Every Teardrop In A Waterfall

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Maybe she should stay covered up, then everyone would focus on her singing talent, ya think? Coldplay rules! Don't care what you say, they made it happen...

- robyn , usa, 10/9/2012 20:39

Click to rate Rating 1

Hey newsflash matt glos..jamiroquai and incognito are JAZZ FUNK BANDS not P0P Band but i guess you dont listen to enough music to spot the diffrence.coldplay are just a competent band with convuluted lyrics whose face fits and have been over promoted by the gatekeepers of the music industry..take away the promotion and they are no better than level 42

- Funklord , Forest gate, 10/9/2012 19:58

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Coldplay have to be the most overated,tiresome,tedious and boring band in the history ofpop music..and..what were jayz and rhianna doing there??! Couldn't they get jamiroquai? Or Incognito? - Funklord , Forest gate, 10/9/2012 15:35 They are ROCK BAND NOT POP! Coldplay are one of the best British bands around, in which they sell milli0ons of records and sell out stadiums. It was a shame they did not headline at the Olympics instead of the Paralympic, however it was good to see.

- matt , glos, United Kingdom, 10/9/2012 19:15

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I don't care what people say negative about Rihanna, she works hard for what she has and she is always smiling she shows mad love for her fans. She is such a genuine young lady. People can hate on her all they want but she is still living her life to the fullest and no matter what people say about her she manages to keep being successful. Love you Rihanna and keep being real to yourself.

- bmccoy03 , Charlotte, 10/9/2012 19:06

Click to rate Rating 11

Rihanna's voice is paralyzed.

- James , London, United Kingdom, 10/9/2012 18:00

Click to rate Rating 5

Coldplay have to be the most overated,tiresome,tedious and boring band in the history ofpop music..and..what were jayz and rhianna doing there??! Couldn't they get jamiroquai? Or Incognito?

- Funklord , Forest gate, 10/9/2012 15:35

Click to rate Rating 22

She is most beautiful when she is fully dressed. Love her in the orange thingy.

- T J , Caribbean, 10/9/2012 15:21

Click to rate Rating 45

Your comments: For a start off, why Rhianna and JayZ? Two of the most boring 'artists' and not even British! There are plenty of British singers/bands that we could have had instead that would appeal to the mainstream - abled and disabled. I for one thought it an insult, and also listening to Coldplay's continuous humdrum sound for so long added to the monotony. Thank goodness the rest of the show was superb; the artistic performers were brilliant and also the props.

- IngridSwan , London, United Kingdom, 10/9/2012 15:08

Click to rate Rating 21

Coldplay should have played on their own. Jay Z was terrible and Rihanna was off key throughout. We didn't need them, the last two songs of Coldplay on their own were mesmerising. And how has Chris Martin suddenly got sexy?!! Lucky Gywnnie!

- Lottie , Button Moon, 10/9/2012 15:04

Click to rate Rating 18

Coldplay were outstanding as always - best band in the world! Jay-Z was truly awful!

- Liz , Salisbury, United Kingdom, 10/9/2012 13:22

Click to rate Rating 43

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