Platinum Jubilee celebrations: Queen lights beacon at Windsor

Despite suffering ‘discomfort’ during the Trooping the Colour parade, the Queen returned to Windsor to light a beacon for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Queen lit a commemorative beacon at Windsor Castle, west of London on Thursday local time in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.

Despite suffering “discomfort” during the Jubilee’s Trooping the Colour parade earlier in the day, the Queen rallied to take part in the beacon lighting ceremony.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II lights the principle beacon. Picture: AFP.

Appearing from the sovereign’s entrance and walking with the help of a cane, she took a few steps forward to trigger the lighting display that lit up the principal beacon of more than 3500 across the UK, its overseas territories, and the Commonwealth.

She touched the “Commonwealth Nations Globe” from the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle to start the lighting of the “Principal Beacon” outside of Buckingham Palace in London.

Prince William took part from the palace in the dual ceremony.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II touches the Commonwealth Nations Globe to start the lighting of the Principal Beacon. Picture: AFP.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II receives the Commonwealth Nations Globe before lighting the Principal Beacon. Picture: AFP.

Just as the beacon lighting ceremony ended, an image of the Queen was projected onto Buckingham Palace. The crowds still on The Mall applauded when the colourful tribute appeared.

It included images of the Queen throughout her life. The Palace are yet to confirm if the projection will light up the palace for the rest of the celebrations.

Images of The Queen were beamed onto Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty

Across the globe, beacons are bing lit from Hadrian’s Wall to the Channel Islands

and 54 Commonwealth capitals on five continents; starting with Tonga and Samoa in the Pacific and ending in the Caribbean and Canada.

The beacon, known as the "Tree Of Trees", was created by Designer Thomas Heatherwick and is made up of 300 individual trees.

A beacon is lit in front of the Pierhead Building at Cardiff Bay to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. Picture: Getty

Roman archers fire flaming arrows into a floating beacon on the lake during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting Ceremony at Cawfield Quarry on Hadrian.

The "Tree Of Trees" at The Principal Beacon at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty Images)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Sir Nicholas Bacon attend The Lighting Of The Principal Beacon at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Getty Images.

The ceremony conclude the first day of celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee kicked off with the annual Trooping the Colour parade. This year, the Queen watched on from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with senior members of her family.

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth,” the Queen said in her Jubilee message.

“I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions. I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”

The royal family have begun celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Picture: Getty Images

Thousands lined the Mall near Buckingham Palace hoping to get a glimpse of the monarch.

But with Prince Charles taking over more of his mother’s duties for occasions of state, there is a sense that the first — and possibly last — Platinum Jubilee in British history marks a turning of the page.

The Queen shares a laugh with her great-grandson, Prince Louis. Picture: Getty Images

A poll for The Sun newspaper this week gave the queen a 91.7-per cent approval rating. Prince Charles commanded only 67.5 per cent, behind his son Prince William on 87.4 per cent.

Unlike the vocal Prince Charles, the queen has rarely expressed an opinion in public, and her sheer longevity means that she has been a fixture of the life of nearly every Briton alive.

She has overcome numerous family traumas, including Prince Charles’ very public split from Princess Diana and personal heartache when her consort Prince Philip died aged 99 last year.

The Jubilee is being seen as a chance for Brits to give thanks to the Queen publicly, after social distancing last year prevented crowds at Prince Philip’s funeral, when she herself had to mourn alone.

Originally published as Platinum Jubilee celebrations: Queen lights beacon at Windsor