Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr gave a group of Beatles fans an unforgettable surprise during a sightseeing tour in Liverpool.
The Magical Mystery Tour, which has been running for years, takes fans around the city to see the childhood homes of The Beatles and many of the locations that played a key role in the band's early years.
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During a recent tour, the group was stopped at traffic lights on Hope Street when a car pulled up beside their bus. To the amazement of those onboard, Sir Paul McCartney leaned out of the window to wave at them.
The surprise did not end there. Ringo Starr was also part of the encounter, appearing on a FaceTime call with McCartney at the time.
Tour guide Neil Morton described the unexpected moment to the BBC.
"It was surreal. I had pulled up at the traffic lights on Hope Street when who should I see – Sir Paul with Ringo on FaceTime!
"He waved to us and everybody took photos. The passengers could not believe it."
Morton added that while McCartney made time to greet the group, "nobody really got a chance to speak with him."
Global Beatles Day. Apple Corps Ltd.
The surprise comes just weeks after The Beatles officially recognised Global Beatles Day for the first time.
Held annually on June 25, the fan-led celebration marks the anniversary of the band's famous 1967 performance of All You Need Is Love during the BBC's Our World broadcast, the world's first live international satellite television programme.
The performance was watched by an estimated 400 million people across 26 countries.
The celebration was created in 2009 by Beatles fan Faith Cohen and has since grown into a worldwide event featuring tribute concerts, exhibitions, singalongs and fan gatherings.
Global Beatles Day, Apple Corps Ltd.
This year also marked the first time Apple Corps Ltd., the company founded by The Beatles to manage their creative and business interests, formally recognised the initiative.
In a letter to Faith Cohen, Apple Corps CEO Tom Greene praised the celebration.
"More than ever, the message of The Beatles, and of 'All You Need Is Love' speaks to something vital for community, connection, and the power of bringing people together."
"That is what makes Global Beatles Day so special. It asks nothing more than for people, wherever they are, to stop, listen, and share a little joy."
As part of this year's celebrations, The Beatles also released a newly colourised version of their iconic All You Need Is Love performance online, allowing fans around the world to relive one of the band's most memorable moments together.
