From its smallest villages to the sprawl of London, Britain lit beacons on Thursday night in honor of its queen’s 70-year reign.
As part of the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, towns, villages and cities renewed a tradition that traces its history to the chains of signal fires once used as tools of communication.
The queen led the lighting of the principal beacon at Windsor Castle, and her grandson Prince William lit the beacon outside Buckingham Palace.
Organizers said they expected more than 1,500 beacons would be lit throughout Britain and its overseas territories. All 54 Commonwealth nations, from Australia to Canada, were expected to participate.
