On Thursday night, more than 2,000 beacons lit up in unison in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth to mark the Queen’s anniversary.
As part of the four-day festivities, lighthouses will be lit in towns, villages and capitals along with the main “Tree of Trees” illuminating the sky in front of Buckingham Palace.
Members of the royal family will attend the main lighting ceremony in London, where Grammy winner Gregory Porter will be the “lead singer”.
Why do we light beacons?
The United Kingdom has a long tradition of lighting lighthouses to celebrate royal anniversaries, weddings and coronations.
In 1897, they were consecrated to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond anniversary, while the Queen has them for her silver, gold and diamond anniversaries in 1977, 2002 and 2012, as well as for her 90th birthday in 2016. .
Image: A lighthouse burns during the Queen ‘s Golden Jubilee concert in 2002
Hundreds of years ago, lighthouse chains were used as a means of communication and navigation, but since then they have become a symbol of togetherness at key moments of national importance.
Prior to the 2012 London Olympics, the Olympic torch was flown across the UK before traveling to London to mark the start of the Games.
Image: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh with a lighthouse at Windsor Castle for VE Day
Where do they burn them on Thursday?
There are three types of headlight events that take place across the country and the British community on Thursday.
Thousands of public beacons will be lit in towns and villages and on landmarks by local communities and charities.
Fifty-four beacons of the British Community will be lit in each of the capitals of the British Commonwealth.
The main lighthouse will be lit in the presence of the royal family in front of Buckingham Palace.
Image: The tree of trees is being built outside Buckingham Palace
Although traditionally the main lighthouse will be lit, this year it takes the form of a nearly 70-foot light installation called the Tree of Trees.
Designed by Thomas Hedwick, it celebrates the royal family’s commitment to environmental causes and the Queen’s Green Canopy tree initiative.
The sculpture consists of 80 steel branches holding 350 trees in aluminum pots marked with the queen’s code.
What time does it all happen?
The procedure officially begins at 2 pm, when city callers will read a proclamation announcing the lighting of the lighthouses later in the evening.
With the onset of darkness, the lighthouse ceremonies will begin at around 21:00, with members of the royal family to arrive for the main lighting ceremony at 21:25.
Bands will play Diu Regnare (Long to Reign) at 9.35pm.
This will be followed at 9.40 pm by an official Bugle Call call, entitled Majesty, written especially for the anniversary and played by fuel and cornet players.
At exactly 9.45pm, the lighthouses will be lit and communities will sing A Life Lived with Grace – The Song for the British Community – which won a competition to be chosen as the official lighthouse song.
The Buckingham Palace will be performed by Jubilee lead singer Gregory Porter.
Image: Gregory Porter at the Grammys in Los Angeles. Photo: AP
What beacons should I watch out for?
Along with the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, lighthouses are lit in strange and beautiful places across the country.
Teams from the veteran charity Walking with the Wounded will light four torches on top of the highest peaks in each of the four nations – Scafell Pike in England; Snowden Mountain in Wales; Ben Nevis in Scotland and Slive Donard in Northern Ireland.
Image: Walk with Wounded members getting ready for their four mountain lighthouse climbs
Charity chief executive Fergus Williams told Sky News that they would leave between 3pm and 4pm to make sure they were on top at the crucial moment.
“Clearly there will be a moment of reflection,” he told Kay Burley. “Her Majesty’s seventy years of service are phenomenal. We are really honored to have been asked to do this, so we will be happy to do so. “
Image: An army general lights a lighthouse in Edinburgh Castle
There will be larger official lighthouse ceremonies in the capitals of the four nations – the Tower of London, the castles of Cardiff and Edinburgh and the Titanic Belfast.
Dramatic events are also planned to illuminate the lighthouses on Adrian’s Wall and the Cowfield Quarry in Northumberland, as well as on rocky peaks, beaches and inside extensive country mansions.
What types of beacons are there?
There are four different types of beacons that are used as part of anniversary celebrations.
Gas lighthouse
Image: Lewis Wilde tests one of Jubilee’s new gas-filled beacons
The burner heads for these new, specially designed beacons are shaped like a globe to represent the countries of the British Commonwealth.
They are surrounded by a metal crown, run by gas cylinders and cost local authorities, community groups and charities around £ 500 each.
Lighthouse grill with metal shield
Image: Lighthouse in Mile End, East London
These beacons are usually placed on high wooden or metal poles and illuminated with solid fuel. Their metal shield is also shaped like a crown.
Communities may already have them from previous royal events.
Lighthouse for fire
Image: Lighthouse in Pitlochry, Scotland
Lighthouses can also be in the form of traditional fire. They must be lit at least 200 feet from all buildings, roads and railways and have permission from the landowner.
Official guidelines suggest that at least 12 marshals must monitor the flames, as well as the local fire brigade.
Straw lighthouse
Image: Preparing the straw fire before the anniversary
Like a normal fire, but made of large bales of straw in the shape of a man with a stick.
They are lit with paper and solid lighters at six points around the straw.
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