QTheMusic.com

Duffy crowned her first year of chart conquests by pulling off an amazing feat by bagging a hat-trick of awards at the Brit Awards 2009.

Her haul of prizes included the highly-prized award of best British album for debut release Rockferry, beating acts such as Elbow and Radiohead. She also beat Coldplay who, despite having the biggest selling album in the world last year with Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, left the event at London's Earl's Court empty-handed.

Duffy, who album has also conquered the world with the fourth biggest global sale of 2008, also put in an impressive performance with one of the most baffling acceptance speeches of the night as she picked up the first award of the night - best British female award - at the event in London’s Earl’s Court.

Collecting the prize from comic Simon Pegg, she told guests: “Thank you so much – it’s a real honour to be here. British female? I don’t know what that means. I suppose it’s a good job my mum didn’t have a boy’.

She landed her second award when she beat acts such as Last Shadow Puppets to collect the best British breakthrough prize. "I don't mean to be greedy and take another one home with me," she said. "I truly can't tell you how much this means to me."

And Duffy completed her collection of trophies with the final award of the night as she took the best album prize, presented by the newly white-haired Tom Jones. "I can't tell you how much this means after five years. Thank you so much," she said.

Kings Of Leon also had a tremendous night with a pair of wins. The band were named best international group and fourth album Only By The Night - Q's album of the year in 2008 - was judged best international album.

Collecting the group award, for which they beat Fleet Foxes and AC/DC, the band's Nathan Followill joked: "It wasn't just for our good looks, it's also for the music."

And the band acknowledged the UK's role in their success as they collected their second award. Kings Of Leon took off over here before they established themselves as a major draw in their native US. Frontman Caleb Followill said: "I don't normally take - this is normally not my thing. I just have to say that we have to give this to England. If If it wasn't for England, Kings Of Leon wouldn't be a band right now. You created Kings Of Leon - and good luck getting rid of us."

Elbow added to their Mercury Music Prize win last year - for fourth album The Seldom Seen Kid - by picking up the prize for best British group. And the band looked genuinely stunned to land the title.

Singer Guy Garvey, who collected the award from actor David Hasselhoff, slurred: "You wouldn't believe how long it has taken to get close to the Hoff! But it's been worth it." And the frontman added: "Thank you very much to everybody who helped us out, especially sweethearts and loved ones."

The international female prize went to I Kissed A Girl star Katy Perry - who attended in a figure-hugging black corset and shiny leggings - revealed she was battling a cold as she attended the event.

She said: "I just want to thank everybody in London and everybody in the UK. I’m so sick right now. But they said I should show up to the Brits because something special might happen.” And referring to her cold she joked: “I want to die right now.”

Perhaps the most unexpected winners of the night were Iron Maiden - not normally accustomed to Brits success - who were awarded the title of best live act, a category voted by the public. Even show co-host James Corden admitted: "Iron Maiden, who'd have thunk it?"

Although the band were unable to attend, due to their world tour, they sent a filmed acceptance speech in which singer Bruce Dickinson said: It's voted for by the fans and they're the people who keep this band alive."

Paul Weller landed the best British male prize but was unable to attend the event, instead collecting it from Adele in a filmed acceptance. Kanye West took the title of best international male. He said: "In every nation, I'm the best male. If you go to a club and you're looking for a male and you see me, you have the best."

Duffy lost out in the best British single category to Girls Aloud for their hit The Promise. The group's Kimberley Walsh said: "This means so much to us. It's our first Brit in six years." Bandmate Sarah Harding added: "Can I just say - it's about time.I think I just wet myself."

Performers at the event included show openers U2 playing new single Get On Your Boots, Take That and Girls Aloud set pulses racing as they performed a fan dance with skimpy diamante spangled skin-coloured costumes to perform their hit The Promise.

Presenters Mathew Horne and James Corden pulled off a comic routine as they donned dresses and acted as backing dancers for co-host Kylie Minogue who did a brief rendition of Can't Get You Out Of My Head as they came onstage. Referring to his scarlet dress and thigh-high boots Corden joked: "I look like a trucker tranny."

The event has become noted for its unique collaborations between artists and this year's unusual tie-up was between Estelle and The Ting Tings who played a medley of American Boy, That's Not My Name and Shut Up And Let Me Go.

Pet Shop Boys - the winner of the outstanding contribution to music award - rounded off the show with a spectacular performance which saw The Killers' Brandon Flowers and Lady GaGa joining them onstage for a medley of hits such as It's a Sin, What Have I Done To Deserve This and West End Girls.

[You can see a gallery of images from the event here]

And read the full list of winners here

8:27 PM | 18/02/2009