The Queen has made her second appearance of the day as she triggered the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon outside Buckingham Palace.
At the same time thousands of beacons were lit in villages, towns and cities across the UK to honour the Queen’s 70-year reign.
Her Majesty started the ceremony from the quadrangle at Windsor Castle, with the Duke of Cambridge representing his grandmother, alongside other members of the Royal Family, at Buckingham Palace, the site of the “Tree of Trees” principal beacon.
Although traditionally the principal beacon would be set on fire, this year it is took the form of a near-70ft light installation.
At Windsor Castle, the Queen, wearing a green jacket, gloves and glasses, pressed the quadrangle to start the lighting of the Jubilee.
Prince William was present to see the Tree of Trees light up, while people across the country lit up their beacons, including archers lighting fire to the beacons at Hadrian’s Wall in Scotland.
More than 3,500 beacons were simultaneously lit, creating a network of tributes stretching throughout the UK, including ones at historic sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle, Lambeth Palace and the Queen’s estates at Sandringham and Balmoral.
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For the first time, beacons will be lit throughout the day in each of the Commonwealth’s 54 capital cities.
Grammy-winner Gregory Porter and the London Community Gospel Choir led the performance of a new Song for the Commonwealth – A Life Lived with Grace – after the Buckingham Palace beacon was lit.
The song will also be performed by choirs across all the Commonwealth countries.
Ahead of the ceremony, William described the first day of the jubilee celebrations as a “big day” and “pretty impressive”.
Speaking to Mike Bloomberg, sponsor of the Tree of Trees, he said: “It was a big day today, It was pretty impressive. Did you see the flypast?”
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Why are beacons lit for big royal events?
Earlier today the Queen appeared at Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour parade and a flypast.
However, Buckingham Place later announced the monarch would not be attending Friday’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral after experiencing “some discomfort” during the event.
