Queen leads lighting of thousands of flaming beacons in Jubilee tribute

Flaming beacons have been lit across Scotland to mark the celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

More than 3,500 blazing tributes have been set off simultaneously across the country to celebrate her majesty’s 70-year reign across the UK and Commonwealth.

The Queen has symbolically led the chain from Windsor Castle with the lightning of the principal Jubilee beacon in Central London, where she is represented by the Duke of Cambridge.

The beacon lit here in #Aberdeen on this the #PlatinumJubileeCelebration as hundreds gather outside Marischal College to join with thousands of other events across the UK and beyond. pic.twitter.com/7vte6LHBMI
— Ryan Houghton (@Ryan_Aberdeen) June 2, 2022

Taking the form of a lighting installation involving the Green Canopy Tree of Trees sculpture, the principal beacon has been accompanied by projections of archive photographs onto the front of Buckingham Palace.

The tributes are visible at landmarks ranging from Edinburgh Castle to Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak.

Other beacon events have been seen at locations including Saltcoats, North Ayrshire; Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven; and at RAF Lossiemouth, where the celebrations have featured a Military Wives Choir.

🔥 The beacon burns here at Stirling Castle to celebrate the #PlatinumJubilee

Provost Douglas Dodds does the honours in his first public act in office. pic.twitter.com/XBLTejImpF
— Stirling Council (@StirlingCouncil) June 2, 2022

The Platinum Jubilee weekend runs from June 2-5 and a mixture of large-scale events and small community gatherings have been planned to mark the occasion.

The main highlight will be an open-air concert in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, organised by the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on Sunday.

Music will be featured by the HM Royal Marines Scotland band, Love Music Community Choir and a special Edinburgh Festival Carnival parade.

And the Beacon is lit at Beecraigs pic.twitter.com/T4Ketk6smg
— Fiona Hyslop (@FionaHyslop) June 2, 2022

Soul icon Diana Ross is set to headline the BBC’s Platinum Party At The Palace concert celebrating the monarch’s 70-year reign.

The entire nation is being called upon to sing Neil Diamond’s hit Sweet Caroline at street parties across the UK.

Scouts jubilee beacon on Loch Lomond pic.twitter.com/GC3KJLo7ym
— mchapman (@malcolmchapman) June 2, 2022

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that on behalf of the people of Scotland, the Scottish Government will present the Queen with a limited edition Johnnie Walker whisky, complete with a special design to celebrate the beauty of Scotland’s plants and wildlife, and a throw made from the tartan commissioned in honour of the three bridges across the Forth.