More than 4,000 Diamond Jubilee beacons will be lit across the globe in celebration of the Queen Elizabeth of Britain’s 60-year reign, organisers have announced.
The Queen will light the final beacon from the concert stage where pop stars Stevie Wonder, JLS, Sir Elton John and a host of others will perform in her honour on June 4th.
Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee beacons, said the number of communities who had registered to hold celebration bonfires was “truly amazing” and easily surpassed the 2,012 they hoped to attract.
After the pop stars have paid a musical tribute to the monarch in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, the Queen will walk out in front of the crowds and set the national beacon ablaze.
She will place a diamond, made from crystal glass, into a special pod at 10.30pm, triggering the lighting of the last beacon nearby in The Mall, the avenue directly in front of the Palace in London.
Mr Peek, who organised the Golden Jubilee beacons in 2002, delivered the crystal to the Tower of London this evening during a lavish ceremony.
He said: “Our aim was to light 2,012 beacons.” – (PA)