Queen Elizabeth II has lit the first of her platinum jubilee beacons, heralding the start of celebrations throughout the Commonwealth.
Touching an illuminated globe, she sent a river of light from her Windsor Castle home to Buckingham Palace, where the Duke of Cambridge watched as the Tree of Trees sculpture was bathed in light.
The symbolic moment on Thursday came at the end of the first day of celebrations marking the monarch's 70th year on the throne.
After acknowledging the salute of the servicemen and women who took part in Trooping the Colour, she returned to Buckingham Palace’s balcony and received the admiration of the crowds surrounded by her family as they watched the fly-past over London.
During the event, she experienced a recurrence of her “episodic mobility issues” and the palace announced her decision to cancel her appearance at the thanksgiving service for her 70-year reign, which will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
Before the lighting ceremony, the queen walked from Windsor Castle’s Sovereign’s Entrance into the Quadrangle, greeted by the more than 100 people who live and work in the royal residence.
Peter McGowran, chief yeoman warder from the Tower of London, then carefully placed the Commonwealth of Nations Globe on a stand that glowed purple.
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II prepares to touch the Commonwealth Nations Globe to start the lighting of the principal beacon outside of Buckingham Palace in London, from the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 2, 2022 in Windsor, England. Getty -
The Commonwealth of Nations' Globe which was touched by Queen Elizabeth II to symbolically lead the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Thursday June 2, 2022, on day one of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. AP -
Britain's Queen Elizabeth leads the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon, as part of platinum jubilee celebrations, at Windsor Castle, Britain June 2, 2022. Reuters -
Fireworks over Windsor Castle after Queen Elizabeth II symbolically leads the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon, as part of a chain of more than 3,500 flaming tributes to her 70-year-reign, on day one of the platinum jubilee celebrations. Reuters -
Fireworks explode above Windsor Castle during the lighting of the principal platinum jubilee beacon ceremony during the Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations in Windsor, Britain, June 2, 2022. Reuters -
Fireworks explode above Windsor Castle during the lighting of the principal platinum jubilee beacon ceremony during the Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations in Windsor, Britain, June 2, 2022. Reuters -
Fireworks explode above Windsor Castle during the lighting of the principal platinum jubilee beacon ceremony during the Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations in Windsor, Britain, June 2, 2022. Reuters -
Fireworks explode above Windsor Castle during the lighting of the principal platinum jubilee beacon ceremony during the Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations in Windsor, Britain, June 2, 2022. Reuters -
General view of the 'Tree Of Trees' created by Designer Thomas Heatherwick at the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace, London, on day one of the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L), and Nicholas Bacon, Chair of the Queen's Green Canopy, attend a special ceremony for the lighting of the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace in London on June 2, 2022, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. AFP -
US singer Gregory Porter performs at a special ceremony for the lighting of the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace in London on June 2, 2022, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. AFP -
Britain's Prince William meets with singer Gregory Porter during the lighting of the principal beacon, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations, at Buckingham Palace, in London, Britain June 2, 2022. Reuters -
Projections are seen displayed on the front of the Buckingham Palace during the lighting of the principal jubilee beacon, as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations, in London, Britain June 2, 2022. Reuters -
Fireworks burst over Buckingham Palace in London Monday 3 June 2002, after Britain's Queen Elizabeth II lit a beacon to commemorate her platinum jubilee. AFP -
A platinum jubilee beacon is lit at Coutts bank in central London, Thursday June 2, 2022, on day one of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum Jubilee celebrations. PA -
People view a virtual beacon onscreen during Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations at Picadilly Circus in London, Britain June 2, 2022. Reuters -
A general view of the beacon before it's lit, during celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee beacon lighting, in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 2, 2022. Reuters -
A platinum jubilee beacon is lit after a service of thanksgiving, at St. Macartin's Cathedral Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, on day one of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. Reuters -
Fireworks explode overhead during the Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee beacon lighting ceremony at Cawfield Quarry on Hadrian’s Wall on June 02, 2022 in Haltwhistle, England. Getty -
Bugler Captain Jonathan Miller from Durham Army Cadet Force salutes during Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee beacon lighting ceremony at Cawfield Quarry on Hadrian’s Wall on June 02, 2022 in Haltwhistle, England. Getty -
A Roman archer waits to fire flaming arrows into a floating beacon on the lake during Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee beacon lighting ceremony at Cawfield Quarry on Hadrian’s Wall on June 02, 2022 in Haltwhistle, England. Getty -
A platinum jubilee beacon is lit in Cardiff Bay, on day one of Queen Elizabth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
A platinum jubilee beacon is lit by Lord Provost Robert Aldridge and Commander of Edinburgh Garrison Lieutenant Colonel Lorne Campbell at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, Thursday June 2, 2022, on day one of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
A platinum jubilee beacon on Blyth beach, north east England, Thursday June 2, 2022, on day one of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
Platinum jubilee beacons are lit outside the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, England, Thursday June 2, 2022, on day one of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
Platinum jubilee beacons are lit outside the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, on day one of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lights the beacon for Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations in Canberra, Australia, Thursday, June 2, 2022. AP
The Commonwealth of Nations Globe has been kept at the tower for safety and other yeoman warders were in attendance.
After the queen touched the symbol of the world, which sat on a cushion, the purple stand turned white and a river of purple lights spread across the quadrangle before also turning white.
