Paul McCartney and David Beckham among stars celebrating platinum jubilee

UK celebrities lavish praise on 'beloved' UK monarch Queen Elizabeth II

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leads the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon, part of the platinum jubilee celebrations, at Windsor Castle. Reuters

Fireworks explode above Blackpool Tower to celebrate the jubilee. Reuters

The 'Tree Of Trees' by designer Thomas Heatherwick at a special ceremony for the lighting of the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace, London. AFP

Thousands wait for the royal family to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, on the first day of celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. AP

The Trooping the Colour ceremony is carried out at Horse Guards, London. AP

French President Emmanuel Macron stands next to British ambassador to France Menna Rawlings, after rekindling the flame under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark the British queen's platinum jubilee. Reuters

Francis Mwangi, 13, uses an Oculus virtual reality headset to visit Buckingham Palace virtually during platinum jubilee celebrations in Nyeri, Kenya. Reuters

The Red Arrows perform a flypast over the Horse Guards parade, London. Trooping The Colour is a military ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army. It has taken place since the mid-17th century. Getty Images

Prince Louis holds his ears as he stands next to Queen Elizabeth, his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Prince George to watch a special flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony. AFP

Crowds gather to watch a flypast by the Red Arrows during Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee celebrations. EPA

Royal fans wear Queen Elizabeth masks during jubilee celebrations. EPA

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles greet royal well-wishers near Buckingham Palace. Bloomberg

Spectators watch the RAF flypast on The Mall after the Trooping the Colour parade in London. Getty Images

The RAF flypast on The Mall to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on February 6, 1952. Getty Images

From left, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales , Queen Elizabeth II , the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and the Duke of Cambridge, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the RAF flypast on day one of the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA

Members of the public fill The Mall ahead of a fly-past over Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour in London. Trooping The Colour, also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, is a military ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army that has taken place since the mid-17th century. Getty Images

Members of the Honourable Artillery Company perform a gun salute during celebrations to mark the platinum jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the Tower of London. Reuters

The Royal Gun Salute in Cardiff to mark the start of the platinum jubilee weekend. AP

Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade, central London, on day one of the platinum jubilee weekend celebrations. PA

Prince Charles being driven to the parade. Getty

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at the Trooping the Colour parade. Getty

Police officers intervene as protesters try to disrupt the ceremony during the queen's platinum Jubilee celebrations on The Mall in London. Reuters

The Mall is packed for the wekeend's celebrations. PA

The Kings Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery ride down The Mall on their way to fire the ceremonial gun. AP

(L-R) Prince George of Cambridge, Prince Louis of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge travel in a horse-drawn carriage during Trooping The Colour. Getty

An Irish wolfhound leads as soldiers march along The Mall. AP

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex ride in a carriage as the Royal Procession leaves Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Color ceremony. AP

The BT tower in central London bears a message to Queen Elizabeth II. AFP

The 206 Battery of the Royal Artillery, the Ulster Gunners, fire a midday commemorative gun salute in honour of the beginning of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations, at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. Reuters

Sydney Harbour Bridge is illuminated in 'Royal Purple' to mark the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. AP

The 105th Regiment Royal Artillery, The Scottish and Ulster Gunners during the royal gun salute at Edinburgh Castle. PA

Marching in Horse Guards Parade, central London. Getty

People gather at The Mall in London to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. Reuters

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is driven along The Mall. Huge crowds are expected in the city as the UK marks the jubilee. AFP

The Band of the Welsh Guards make their way to the Trooping the Colour event in London. AP

The platinum jubilee marks the 70th anniversary of the queen taking the throne. Reuters

Jubilant crowds in London. Reuters

A Buckingham Palace staff member cleans the balcony where the queen is expected to wave to well-wishers. AFP

A man walks his corgis Chuckles and Bunting down The Mall during the celebrations. Reuters

Police officers cycle down The Mall. Reuters

The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery fires field guns at Point Jerningham, to mark the 70th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, in Wellington, New Zealand. AP

The official platinum jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth, taken at Windsor Castle recently. Photo: Buckingham Palace

Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, sits outside Downing Street, London, adorned in bunting before the platinum jubilee celebrations, in London. AP

A look-alike of Queen Elizabeth waves at people in London. The queen's platinum jubilee will be celebrated from June 2 to June 5 to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on February 6, 1952. EPA

People walk along The Mall in London, before the start of the Queen's platinum jubilee weekend. AP

Joseph Afrane, 58, originally from Ghana, lives in Battersea, London, and is planning to attend all the official platinum jubilee events. PA

Twins Linda Whitfield and Janice Jones, 59, from County Durham, are camping on The Mall to ensure they have a good view of the celebrations. PA

Members of the public walk through Piccadilly Circus before the platinum jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth. AFP

Sir Paul McCartney and David Beckham were among the stars celebrating Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday as festivities for the platinum jubilee weekend got under way.

The Beatles star, 79, was knighted by the Queen in 1997, and shared a picture of himself with her from an event the year before as he congratulated her on her 70-year reign.

Alongside a picture on Instagram, Sir Paul wrote: “70 beautiful years of Queen Elizabeth the second. Congrats ma'am! And thanks — Paul?.”

David Beckham also took to the platform to hail the queen's “remarkable” reign.

Dame Julie Andrews and actress and singer Sheridan Smith also shared messages of congratulations for the queen.

The Sound Of Music's Dame Julie said in a video message shown on BBC News: “Your Majesty, I well remember the beautiful radio speech you gave on your 21st birthday.

“You pledged yourself in service to the people of Britain and the Commonwealth, and I feel that in all the years since you have never betrayed that promise.

“I would like to say my warmest congratulations to you, Ma'am. And thank you.”

Cilla star Smith was presented with her OBE by the Duke of Cambridge in 2015 and said in her BBC News message: “Your Majesty, one of the last memories I have of my dear father was of him escorting me to Buckingham Palace to receive my OBE.

“It was a very special day for him too and one that he cherished dearly as you have touched the hearts of generation upon generation.

“You are beloved by children, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Your selflessness and dedication to duty is beyond compare.

“I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you and to send you my best wishes on your platinum jubilee.”

Her father Colin, who died in 2016, had along with her mother Marilyn formed the country and western duo The Daltons.

Spice Girl Geri Halliwell shared two posts on Instagram to commemorate the occasion.

Among the pictures shared by Halliwell was one of her alongside her fellow Spice Girl bandmates — Victoria Beckham, Emma Bunton, Mel B and Mel C — from 1997 when they met the monarch at the Royal Variety Performance.

They had performed as part of the show, staged at London's Victoria Palace Theatre, in celebration of the queen and Duke of Edinburgh's Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Penny Lancaster shared a photo showing her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, in front of the gates at Buckingham Palace, ahead of him performing as part of Saturday night's Party at the Palace concert, which will be broadcast on the BBC.

She captioned the picture: “Excitement and nervous for Saturday night #partyatthepalace”.

Sir Rod, who was given a knighthood in the 2016 Honours list, said previously of performing at the concert: “Queen Elizabeth has given incredible service to the United Kingdom over the last 70 years and I'm delighted to be able to join her in celebrating her platinum jubilee with the Party at the Palace.

“She has demonstrated to the world what a special person she is and how lucky we are to have her. This will be a momentous occasion.”

Other names on the bill for the concert include Queen + Adam Lambert who will open the concert, while Diana Ross will close the event, marking her first UK live performance in about 15 years.

Watch: top five moments from Trooping of Colour