Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper, the Shard, was formally inaugurated last night with a dazzling display of lights.

The ceremony marked the completion of the exterior of the 1,000 ft high, 72-storey building. The building became the backdrop to a laser show, accompanied by music from the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Guests at the high profile event included United Arab Emirates prime minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al Thani, Prince Andrew, the Prime Minister and London mayor Boris Johnson.

Others in London enjoyed spectacular views of the display at parties held at venues close the Shard.

The tower has been 12 years in the making since it was first mooted by Irvine Sellar’s Sellar Property and architect Renzo Piano, who sketched the building’s unique design  over a lunch in Berlin.

The development has been described by the Seller Group  as a “vertical city” comprising 589,602 sq ft of office space, restaurants, an 18 storey Shangri-La Hotel and viewing galleries.

The building will also have 10 luxury flats which are expected to fetch between £30m and £50m each. 

Questions still remain over whether the £450m structure’s office space will be let. At a press conference earlier this week, developer Irvine Sellar said he expected the building to be fully let “by the end of 2014”.

So far broadcaster Al Jazeera is the only prospective occupier to have showed interest in taking space. The scheme forms part of Sellar Property Group’s 2m sq ft London Bridge Quarter. It is expected to be ready for occupation in early 2013.