LIGHTING UP THE NATION

THE PLATINUM JUBILEE BEACONS PROVED TO BE AN EYE-CATCHING TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE CELEBRATIONS

- KIRSTY NUTKINS AND JENNIFER KYTE

BRIGHT AND BOLD

Following an extraordinary morning kicking off the Jubilee celebrations with Trooping The Colour, the Queen returned to Windsor Castle in preparation to light the principal Jubilee Beacon.

And what a sight to behold it was! Following the announcement that same afternoon that the Queen suffered some discomfort during the morning celebrations and therefore could not attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday morning, many worried they may not see her for the Beacon lighting.

But the Queen walked out of the castle into the quadrangle as soon as the sun set to be greeted by 100 people who live within the castle grounds and were specially invited to witness the historical moment.

Wearing a stunning jade Stewart Parvin crepe coat, pearl necklace and matching earrings – plus her new special Platinum Jubilee brooch created by The Goldsmiths’ Company – the Queen was escorted by her private secretary Sir Edward Young, lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey and equerry Lt Colonel Tom White of the Royal Marines.

She was greeted by a fanfare from the State Trumpeters before Chief Yeoman Warder Peter McGowran presented the Queen with the Commonwealth of Nations’ Globe, a blue sphere that sits inside a silver crown on a blue and gold cushion.