The Queen has symbolically led the lighting of the principal Platinum Jubilee beacon in a spectacular end to the first day of historic national commemorations celebrating her 70-year-reign.
The monarch’s late-night appearance at Windsor Castle rounded off the start to joyful festivities which saw the Queen take to the Buckingham Palace balcony surrounded by her family.
Earlier, the Queen appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other royals to huge cheers from watching crowds as the Royal Family watched the fly over.
Other beacons will be lit at 9.45pm with pipers across the UK performing the ‘Die Regnare’. Beacons will also be lit across the Commonwealth at 9.15pm local time.
The first beacons to be illuminated were in Tonga and the Samoa in the South Pacific, the final one will be in Belize.
Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, also witnessed the fly past with their three children, Princes George and Louis and their sister, Princess Charlotte.
Thousands packed the sides of The Mall earlier on Thursday as the monarch made a first appearance alongside her cousin the Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards, to take the Trooping the Colour salute.
After 70 years of service for the country and Commonwealth, well-wishers are taking to the streets over the extended bank holiday weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Trooping the Colour began the festivities and saw the Prince of Wales deputise for the Queen, taking the salute and inspecting the troops as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex join the Duchess of Cambridge and other royals to watch the spectacle.
