As the Royal Family arrived for today’s thanksgiving ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral, cheers erupted around the cathedral, marking the second day of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Charles is filling in for the king, who had to’reluctantly’ withdraw from today’s event after experiencing ‘discomfort’ during the Trooping the Colour.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had flown in from California to attend the celebrations, were present in the church. The Duke of York, on the other hand, was conspicuously absent after ‘testing positive for Covid.’
As Harry and Meghan arrived, a standing ovation erupted, and the Dean of St Paul’s met them at the great west door.
They spoke with the senior cleric for a few minutes before entering the house of worship and greeting the long line of clergy who are attending today’s Thanksgiving ceremony.
Harry paused for a brief conversation with the Archbishop of York, who will deliver the sermon later in the day and is anticipated to praise the Queen’s 70-year reign.
They then took their seats with other family members, as well as Boris Johnson and former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron.
Despite a standing ovation, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s decision to attend drew mixed emotions from the throng outside St Paul’s.
‘I am happy they showed up,’ Natalie Mahoney, 32, a communications cellular worker from Stoke, said.
They are considered outsiders by most people, but family is family. By coming here today, they did a nice deed. They have demonstrated respect for the Queen, which is the most important thing.’
‘I assume they came here for their own goals,’ said Christopher Matthews, 56, a retired engineer from Knutsford, Cheshire. And that is to be a member of the Royal family when they so desire.
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Isn’t this supposed to be a documentary? They won’t be able to stop talking about it, I’m sure. Their decision to opt out could have caused a lot of damage to the Royal family, but Her Majesty masterfully held things together.’
‘Never complain, never explain is her approach,’ he remarked when asked if The Queen would have liked the couple not to come. She is the only one who knows. Harry and Meghan, on the other hand, will never be the same.’
‘Family is family no matter what,’ Mel Quash, from Cheshunt, added. As a result, it’s great to see them here. Many unjust things have been said about them, and many people do not know who they are.
‘Despite living in America, Harry and Meghan have participated in a historic day and demonstrated that they are still members of the Royal Family.’
After a busy start to the Jubilee festivities on Thursday, the Queen is expected to recuperate at her Berkshire estate after watching the ceremony at St Paul’s on television from Windsor Castle.
Hundreds of people have gathered, some wearing Union Jack caps and others draping flags and bunting over the railings on the way to the cathedral, despite the crowds appearing to be lower than those seen during the Trooping the Colour festivities yesterday.
Thousands of well-wishers flocked to St Paul’s Cathedral to express their gratitude to The Queen, resolute not to let Her Majesty’s absence from the thanksgiving ceremony ruin the occasion.
For the Jubilee weekend, one Union flag-waving enthusiast traveled all the way from the United States.
‘I met the Queen Mother in 1985 on a social work exchange,’ Regina Schedler, a senior citizen and social worker from Pennsylvania, recalled. It was a noble act.
‘It was one-of-a-kind, and she was a very extraordinary woman.’
‘She has guided her country, and it is a fantastic experience to be a part of the Jubilee,’ she said of the Queen. We are extremely fortunate.’
Jennie Lusa, 39, from Michigan, and her friend Caroline Peterson, 41, a copywriter from Hawaii, were among those shouting and waving at Prince William as he left St Paul’s.
‘I was up north trekking along Hadrian’s Wall and had some spare time when I discovered the Jubilee was going on, so I extended my stay and came down,’ Ms Peterson said.
‘All we’re going to do now is enjoy the moment and the throng, depending on how dense they are.’
‘I think 70 years is quite incredible and spectacular, and I’m liking how British people are reacting to it.’
Michael Enwright, 53, a production manager for NHS surgical equipment, and his son-in-law Matthew Hilton, 35, had traveled from Basildon, Essex, with their six-year-old grandson.
‘There is nothing greater than the Queen,’ Mr Enwright remarked.
She has been the country’s leader for the past 70 years. Without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a doubt, without a She has a strong personality.
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‘My first was the Silver Jubilee,’ said Sarah Sillett, 57, a media professional from London. We will never see another 70 years. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have a great deal of admiration for the Queen.
‘I believe some of the behavior of other members of the family is disheartening and does not reflect the Royal Family or the monarchy as an institution.’
‘I am pro-monarchy,’ she remarked of the monarchy. I believe it brings togetherness to a country that may be very divided.’
Ms Sillett was joined by her friend Jane Burwell, a 56-year-old London PA, at the parade.
‘I think it’s fantastic,’ Ms Burwell remarked. What occurred yesterday, the flag-waving, the whole event, impacted me deeply.
‘The Queen expressed her wish for good memories to be made over the weekend.’ The Royal Family is a gift to us.’
‘I came here with a group of friends because we think this may be the last time we would be able to see her Majesty in person,’ Julie Feehan, a BT employee in Cardiff, said.
‘I’m sure she’s as disappointed as we are that she won’t be able to attend, but no one will hold it against her.’ She’s done an outstanding job.’
‘She is 96 years old,’ said her friend Alison Davies. And we all know how difficult that can be. But her smiles yesterday demonstrated how much she values us and how much we value her.’
‘She has held the monarchy together,’ said Joseph Afrane, 58, a security guard from Battersea, London, who was dressed in a Union Jack coat and bowler hat.
‘There will be natural disappointment that Her Majesty cannot be here,’ said Prebendary Alan Green, who was officiating at the thanksgiving ceremony.
‘I’m a Republican,’ says the speaker. But I believe we must honor the Queen for the outstanding service she has rendered to this country. I believe the monarchy and the Queen can be distinguished.
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She is a truly remarkable person who has done so much in her life.’
‘Her Majesty has given Amanda service to our country,’ said Iain Macaulay, Lord-Lieutenant of the Western Isles, who was appointed by the Queen in March.
‘It’s a pity she won’t be able to attend the memorial service.’ But she will be watching, and she will notice how much gratitude exists in this country for the services she has provided.
‘I understand why she is unable to attend. She is 96 years old, and things are certainly more difficult at that age. ‘However, we cannot express our gratitude enough for the 70 years Mom has given us.’
Today’s service will be Harry and Meghan’s first with The Firm since the tense Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, just before they officially stood down as senior royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on the other hand, are hoping to keep a low profile during their visit to the UK, according to a royal analyst.
‘I spoke with people close to the couple… who claimed that they wish to be as low-profile as possible during this trip,’ Omid Scobie, author of Finding Freedom, told BBC Breakfast.
‘It’s almost hard to believe, but I believe Trooping the Colour was an excellent example yesterday.’ We didn’t see them on the television cameras.’
He went on to say that the pair has a ‘warm and close’ relationship.
‘I have done some amateur dramatics, and despite Her Majesty not being able to see for herself the adulation that there is for her, the play must go on,’ said John Aylard, 77, of Kentish Town, London.
‘We have been extremely fortunate to have served our country for 70 years.’ ‘May it continue for a long time.’
‘We’re down for the weekend to experience the events,’ said Joanna Evans, who traveled to the Royal Borough with her husband Mark from Birmingham.
We will never see anything like this again in our lives, so we decided that this would be the ideal location for the jubilee.’
Brett Hawkins and his wife flew from London to Windsor. The Denver, Colorado couple planned their trip to the UK to coincide with the jubilee.
‘It’s nice to be here for these events,’ Brett, 65, remarked. We decided to come here instead of the Queen’s thanksgiving service at St Paul’s because we heard she wouldn’t be there. This is our first visit to Windsor. This town’s history is fascinating.
‘It’s wonderful that Prince Harry and Meghan are here, and that the Queen has finally seen her granddaughter Lilibet.’ I’m sure that will make her birthday celebrations much more memorable.’
Today, special festivities are taking place in the Royal town, including a Jubilee Jamboree held within the Castle grounds.
The event will include a variety of family activities, such as interactive workshops where youngsters can dress up and learn about Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.
A beach rugby competition and an open day at the Windsor Guildhall, where Prince Charles married second wife Camilla in April 2005 and Sir Elton John and David Furnish held one of Britain’s first same-sex civil partnership ceromonies, are among the other festivities in the Royal town.
This evening, a music concert will be held in St George’s Chapel, which is located within the grounds of the palace where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle in May 2018.
The sold-out event will comprise music from around the British Isles that has been used on royal occasions, including some composed during The Queen’s reign and others produced just for the occasion.
Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullay, Bishop of London, told BBC Breakfast that she is ‘excited’ about leading the blessing at the thanksgiving service, although she is concerned about the ceremonial regalia she would need to wear.
The narrator states, “It’s a coat called the George V coat.” She explained, “It’s an antique gown with a cape that sits on me, but it was definitely meant for men because I’m the first woman to be Bishop of London.”
‘It doesn’t sit on me as well as it does on others, so I’m a little worried.’
Her Majesty’s Christian religion has “always shaped her,” she said, adding that she is honored to be a part of the ceremony and to “thank” The Queen.
Preaching at a Thanksgiving service, according to the Archbishop of York, is a “rather intimidating gig.”
The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell was compelled to step in at the eleventh hour after the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, contracted Covid 19.
Before the service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Archbishop Cottrell said he was trying to treat it like ‘another sermon.’
‘Obviously, that’s my duty, giving sermons and speaking about the Christian religion,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
‘Although this is a rather daunting job I’ve been offered on short notice, based on my understanding of the Queen and when I’ve been with her previously, indeed when I’ve preached in church when she’s there, the one thing I’m extremely convinced of is she’ll be a great hostess.’
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So I’m simply going to treat it like another sermon. It’s a little scary, but it’s a fantastic honor.’
After suffering some ‘discomfort’ during Thursday’s celebrations, Archbishop Cottrell expressed sorrow that the Queen would not be there, but said he was confident she would be watching the proceedings.
‘I’m really disappointed she’s not here because I wanted to say some personal words to her, thank you for everything she’s done for our country, but I’m sure she’ll be watching on TV,’ he said.
Mr Cottrell stated that the Queen’s life was shaped by her Christian faith throughout her reign.
‘The Queen doesn’t wear her faith on her sleeve; instead, she wears it in her heart, which is the greatest way to do it.’
‘I think that has been a hugely impressive example right at the heart of our national life for 70 years.’
Meanwhile, the Dean of St Paul’s has stated that today’s service signifies the nation’s ‘taking up the baton’ from The Queen as a gesture of gratitude for her many years of service.
‘I believe, for me, what this service is about is saying not just thank you, but also that we are picking on the baton of what The Queen has done,’ the Very Revd Dr David Ison told BBC Breakfast. We, too, are committing to finding ways to make the world a better place.’
‘I usually get nervous,’ he remarked of the service. You can’t help it because you want it to go well, so you’re frightened to make sure it does, and you’re worried about what could go wrong.’
He also mentioned an incident.
The 96-year-old Queen will miss today’s service at St Paul’s following a last-minute decision announced by the Palace at 7.30pm last night after she experienced ‘discomfort’ during the Trooping The Colour events.
She is understood to have suffered episodic mobility issues yesterday – and, in a statement, the Palace revealed the Queen ‘greatly enjoyed’ her birthday parade and flypast but ‘did experience some discomfort’.
It said: ‘Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that she will not attend.’
It is understood the decision ahead of the service, which begins at 11.30am today, was considered regrettable but sensible due to the length of the journey and time involved and the physical demands the service would require.
Senior members of the monarchy at St Paul’s this morning will also include the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Sussexes, who will be joined by the extended royal family.
Meanwhile key workers, charity volunteers and members of the armed forces have been invited to the Queen’s service of thanksgiving in recognition of their contribution to public life.
More than 400 people, who have been making a difference either nationally or locally, are among the guests and many have been working tirelessly during the pandemic.
They will join members of the royal family at St Paul’s Cathedral to celebrate the monarch’s 70-year reign, although the Queen herself will not attend after experiencing ‘some discomfort’ during Thursday’s events following previous mobility issues.
The Dean of St Paul’s, Dr David Ison, will say in The Bidding: ‘We come together in this Cathedral Church today to offer to God our thanks and praise for the reign of Her Majesty the Queen and especially for her 70 years of faithful and dedicated service.
‘As we gather from communities across her realm and the Commonwealth of Nations, we rejoice in the diverse and varied lives of all those whom she serves, and in the beauty and abundance of the world in which we live.
‘Inspired by words and music, we pray that God will continue to bless and guide Her Majesty, and that we may all receive grace to honour life and to live in harmony with one another; and we continue to pray for those whose lives are marred by conflict, suffering and tragedy.
‘And mindful of the call of God to look to the needs of others, we commit ourselves afresh to caring for our world and all for whom it is home, striving always to seek out and nurture that which is good in people and in all creation.’
Those invited in recognition of their service have all been recipients of honours in the New Year or Birthday Honours lists and their number also includes public servants and representatives from social enterprises and voluntary groups.
Boris Johnson, who will give a New Testament reading, and members of his Cabinet are among the guests along with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, first ministers of the devolved governments and former prime ministers.
Even those not on home soil have enjoyed a touch of Jubilee celebrations to their holidays, with Italian global cruise line, MSC Cruises, based in Geneva, which is currently in Oslo, Norway, presenting a gigantic cake shown to all those on board. They have also displayed Platinum Jubilee flags on the communal areas.
Ian Sherwood, a councillor from Swaffham, Norfolk, shared his pictures of the 9×16 ft (2.7×4.8m), which sat in the lobby area of the ship.
There have been a fair few scarecrows scattered around the country dressed up to look like Her Majesty, with one in Launton, Oxfordshire, depicted enjoying a glass of gin in her dog-walking gear wearing a sign that reads, ‘Cheers to 70 years!’.
Lucky Summer-Rose Jeffries shares her birthday with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and couldn’t be happier with her special three-tiered Victoria Sponge cake, adorned with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, courtesy of her Nanny and Granddad.
Luka Grajdek baked a Victoria Sponge cake specially for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, and while taking a snap of his latest bake, a cloud in the shape of Great Britain appears in the background.
Around 500 people took to Middleton Street in Llandrindod, Wales, for a Platinum Jubilee street party, pictured. Attendees wore party hats with Union Jacks on them.
Although the country will continue celebrating the Queen, she has decided to take a step back as she experienced ‘discomfort’ following the first day of the Jubilee.
Today’s royal celebrations begun with a service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London. At 10.50am, Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country at 16.5tons, pealed to herald service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s long reign.
The bell was only restored in 2021 after falling silent since the 1970s due to a broken mechanism. It has only been rung on eight occasions since and none of which were for a royal service.
Her Majesty had been hoping to be able to attend the service but has since had to pull out after experiencing ‘discomfort’ on the first day of celebrations.
Last night, Buckingham Palace released a statement which read: ‘Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty, with great, reluctance, has concluded that she will not attend.’
Members of the royal family will arrive at the Cathedral at 11am for the service, which will begin at 11.30am, followed by a reception being held by the Lord Mayor at the Guildhall at 12.25pm.
The service will include a new anthem by Judith Weir CBE who has been Master of the Queen’s Music since 2014. She will be setting to music words from the third chapter of the Book of Proverbs.
Wider members of the family are expected to be present including Harry and Meghan. The Archbishop of Canterbury has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss the service. The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, will give the sermon instead.
Justin Welby was diagnosed with mild pneumonia last Thursday and was continuing to work, but after developing symptoms over the weekend he tested for coronavirus.
Prince Andrew will not be attending after testing positive for Covid-19.
Her Majesty made two appearances yesterday, once on the the Buckingham Palace Balcony for the RAF flypast which saw 71 aircraft soar over The Mall in a historic display featuring Spitfires, Red Arrow Hawks and a Lancaster bomber. Her second appearance came at the Lighting of the Platinum Jubilee beacons at Windsor last night.
Earlier on Thursday was Trooping the Colour, where Prince Charles inspected the troops of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards along with more than 1,500 officers and soldiers from the Household Division.
The procession included 250 horses, hundreds of military musicians and Prince Charles was accompanied on horseback by Prince Willam and Anne, Princess Royal.
The Red Arrows displayed the number 70 in a jaw-dropping formation for Her Majesty.
The show featured more than three times the number of aircraft which took part in the Queen’s last birthday parade flypast in central London in 2019.
The fleet took off from military bases around the UK before joining holding patterns around the south-east of England. Then flew directly down the length of The Mall and over Buckingham Palace – to the delight of the Royal Family and the thousands of watching fans.
Windsor in particular looks very colourful for the Platinum festivities, with a huge Union Jack flag and bunting hung up everywhere to welcome those travelling into the royal borough’s train station. The high street is equally as red, white and blue with plenty of flags covering lampposts in the area.
Plenty of homes and pubs have special decorations including balloons and Jubilee posters in the national colours of the United Kingdom.
In Manchester’s Canal Street, the entire street has been covered in Union Jacks and red, white and blue bunting which has been hung from the trees to the bars just above those sat enjoying a bank holiday beverage.
Nell Gwynn’s tearoom in Windsor has a special painting of the Queen placed front and centre in the shop front window, surrounded by some Platinum Jubilee bunting.
Even those not on home soil have enjoyed a touch of Jubilee celebrations to their holidays, with Italian global cruise line, MSC Cruises, based in Geneva, which is currently in Oslo, Norway, presenting a gigantic cake shown to all those on board. They have also displayed Platinum Jubilee flags on the communal areas.
Ian Sherwood, a councillor from Swaffham, Norfolk, shared his pictures of the 9×16 ft (2.7×4.8m), which sat in the lobby area of the ship.
There have been a fair few scarecrows scattered around the country dressed up to look like Her Majesty, with one in Launton, Oxfordshire, depicted enjoying a glass of gin in her dog-walking gear wearing a sign that reads, ‘Cheers to 70 years!’.
Lucky Summer-Rose Jeffries shares her birthday with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – and couldn’t be happier with her special three-tiered Victoria Sponge cake, adorned with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, courtesy of her Nanny and Granddad.
Luka Grajdek baked a Victoria Sponge cake specially for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, and while taking a snap of his latest bake, a cloud in the shape of Great Britain appears in the background.
Around 500 people took to Middleton Street in Llandrindod, Wales, for a Platinum Jubilee street party, pictured. Attendees wore party hats with Union Jacks on them.
Hundreds of residents in the picturesque village of Little Shelford in Cambridgeshire attended a huge street party this afternoon in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Around 200 people sat down for a tea party on a 60-metre-long table outside the village hall as most of the village joined in the celebrations.
Villagers brought along food to share and also enjoyed flowering, pudding and drawing competitions. The jubilee cake competition was judged by local chef, Ben Orpwood, who appeared on the Great British Menu.
London was awash with red, white and blue today as thousands gathered for the biggest royal celebration in decades – as four days of Platinum Jubilee events kicked off with Trooping the Colour and a spectacular fly-past.
Royal superfans adorned themselves in Union flag clothing, flags and hats as they lined The Mall between Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square – where large crowds also gathered – to watch the Queen’s historic birthday parade kick off.
Groups were spotted cracking out glasses of Champagne and began singing God Save the Queen as early as 8am today – waking up the hardcore fans who had slept in chairs, tents and even on the pavement overnight to secure a prime spot for today’s celebrations.
Some had even flown in from as far and wide as Australia, Canada and the United States specially for the historic event, while others flocked from European countries including Germany and Italy to soak in the momentous occasion.
The sun was shining and spirits were high among the crowds as members of the public chatted and joked with police maintaining the perimeter. Several handmade signs hung over the barriers, with one simply saying, ‘thank you’.
Some 18 royal family members watched the RAF flypast from the balcony including: The Queen; Charles and Camilla; William and Kate with George, Charlotte and Louis; Edward and Sophie and their children Louise and James; Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of York did not make an appearance on the balcony. Prince Andrew has tested positive for Covid so will not be able to attend the thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow.
This morning, the Queen sent a car and security detail to collect the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their two young children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, who will turn one on Saturday, after their private jet landed at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire from on Wednesday.
Her Majesty’s Land Rover greeted the family, who live in California, and their children at before taking them on a 40-minute drive to their UK home, Frogmore Cottage, just a stone’s throw away from Windsor Castle.
The monarch had been hoping to be able attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, but has since had to pull out after experiencing ‘discomfort’ on the first day of celebrations. Her wider family including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will still attend.
Outdoor parties will also take place on Sunday as part of the Big Jubilee Lunch, while there will be a televised concert on the BBC from Buckingham Palace the day before.
It is also expected that she will appear again on the balcony after the Pageant parade finale on Sunday.
The Queen, 96, is also set to spend time with the Sussexes, who are bringing their children Archie and Lilibet over from the US – and could meet Lili for the first time as she celebrates her first birthday on Saturday.
On Sunday, thousands of people will gather across the country as more than 85,000 Big Jubilee Lunches and street parties are staged in celebration of the Queen’s record-breaking 70 year reign.
Royal family members will also visit every corner of the UK over the weekend for official engagements – with William and Kate going to Wales; Edward and Sophie travelling to Northern Ireland; and Anne to Scotland.
And they will be welcomed by thousands of Union Jacks as the country has pulled no punches when it comes to decorating its high streets with plenty of bunting.
The celebrations have gone further than just the UK though – with one patriotic German joining in with putting up flags of the UK’s four nations, the Royal Standard, and even miniature black-hatted redcoats which look as though they are guarding his home like they do the royal residences in Britain.
Stephen Rosner, 57, who lives near Mainz, western Germany, decorated his home with every royal ornament to hand. He told MailOnline he will be celebrating the Jubilee with some friends for tea at 5pm this bank holiday Thursday.
He said: ‘At the time of the Queen’s visit to Germany in 1978, I was 14 and happened to be watching television when the festivities were broadcast. It made a deep and lasting impression on me and it turned out that this moment would quite literally change my life.
‘Ever since then, I have been fascinated by everything connected with Great Britain, including its history, its people, its way of life, its royal family and especially Her Majesty.’
Back in the UK, Luka Grajdek baked a Victoria Sponge cake specially for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, and while taking a snap of his latest bake, a cloud in the shape of Great Britain appeared in the background.
St Mary’s Church in Launton, Bicester, is fundraising via the Jubilee by hosting a trail from 28th May to 12 June, where participants have to find 42 royally themed scarecrows and royal displays around the village.
For the official celebrations later on today, the Queen is to symbolically lead the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon this evening as part of a chain of more than 3,500 flaming tributes to her 70-year reign.
The monarch, 96, will make an extra Jubilee appearance at Windsor Castle at 9.25pm today. It forms part of special dual ceremony with her grandson the Duke of Cambridge.
William will be waiting 22 miles away at the Palace, where the beacon centrepiece – a 21-metre Tree of Trees sculpture – will be illuminated in lights on the Queen’s command.
The newly-announced engagement is an additional entry to the Queen’s busy diary over the four-day weekend, which includes Trooping the Colour and a service of thanksgiving.
At Windsor, the Queen will greeted in the castle Quadrangle with a fanfare for the ceremony at the Sovereign’s Entrance.
The Commonwealth of Nations Globe – a blue globe, which sits inside a silver crown on a blue and gold cushion which was specially created for the Beacons project – will be placed on a podium by Yeoman Warders.
The Queen will touch the globe, symbolically triggering the lighting of the Tree of Trees beacon outside the Palace.
Lights will chase along the Quadrangle towards Windsor’s famous Round Tower, before travelling up the Tree of Trees in London.
The Queen will be joined by Bruno Peek, the Pageantmaster, who has overseen the Jubilee Beacons celebration.
Beacons will be lit throughout the UK and across the Commonwealth, and sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle and the Queen’s estates of Sandringham and Balmoral, and on top of the UK’s four highest peaks.
The first beacons will be lit in Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific, and the final one in the central American country of Belize.