A network of flaming tributes to the Queen will stretch throughout the country on Thursday in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee on the throne.

A long-standing tradition surrounding the Royal Family will return once more to mark the milestone - the lighting of beacons.

The beacons, including dozens around Wiltshire, will be lit as part of the ceremony in recognition of the Queen’s service, as it's a royal tradition for them to be lit when celebrating Royal jubilees, weddings, and coronations.

This will be the first time a reigning monarch has marked a Platinum Jubilee.

The lighting of beacons can take place almost anywhere – on top of mountains, church and cathedral towers, castle battlements, on town and village greens, country estates, parks and farms, along beaches, and on cliff tops.

Previous lightings of the beacons have taken place during Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and in 1977, 2002, and 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

On Thursday, there are four types of beacons being lit:

  • A free-standing beacon fuelled by bottled gas
  • A beacon brazier with a metal shield
  • A bonfire beacon
  • Bishops Frome Strawman

Communities with existing beacons are encouraged to light these in honour of the occasion. 

It is estimated that more than 1,500 beacons will be lit on Thursday to mark the occasion.

The lightning of the beacons will take place around the UK on Thursday at 9.45pm.

This is not only throughout the UK, but also in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and UK Overseas Territories.

Beacons will be lit in all capital cities of the Commonwealth – with 54 in total.

The principal beacon outside the Palace – a 21-metre-tall Tree of Trees sculpture for the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative – will be illuminated by a senior member of the royal family, and images will be projected onto the Palace.

The first beacons will be lit in Tonga and Samoa in the South Pacific, and the final one in the Central American country of Belize.

Beacons will be lit in 43 places across Wiltshire, which are:

  • Old Sarum
  • Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield
  • Amesbury Town Council
  • Netheravon Parish Council
  • Little Somerford Parish Council. Latton Parish Council - Playing Field, Latton
  • Melksham Town Council
  • Devizes Town Council – Roundway Hill, The Plantation, Devizes
  • Winterslow Parish Council – Winterslow Recreation Ground, Winterslow
  • All Cannings Parish Council – Cliffords Hill, All Cannings
  • Steeple Langdord Parish Council, Steeple Langford
  • West Tisbury Parish Council - Newtown, West Tisbury
  • Burbage Parish Council – Far Lash Open Space, Farlash, Burbage
  • Ham Parish Council – Ham, Marlborough
  • Milton Lilbourne Parish Council – Martinsell Hill
  • The Fonthill Estate – edge of Great Ridge Woods, above village of Chicklade
  • East Knoyle Parish Council – The Windmill, The Green, East Knoyle
  • Westbury Town Council – White Horse Beacon, Westbury
  • Highworth Town Council – Market Square, Highworth
  • Cherhill Parish Council – Cherhill Down, Cherhill, near Marlborough
  • Parish of Marden. Enford Parish Council – Between Enford and Netheravon, Salisbury Plain
  • Colerne Parish Council – Church of St John the Baptist, Colerne
  • Colerne Parish Council – Colerne Airfield, Colerne
  • Tidworth Town Council – Tidworth. Marlborough Town Council – The Common, Marlborough
  • West Dean Parish Council, Salisbury
  • Lydiard Millicent Parish Council. Neston Park, Corsham
  • Sherston Parish Council – Tower of Holy Cross Church, Sherston
  • Woodborough Parish Council – Woodborough Hill, woodborough, Pewsey
  • West Knoyle Parish Council – The Warren at Broadoak, Game Farm, West Knoyle
  • National Trust – Stourhead, Stourton
  • Keevil Parish Council, Keevil
  • Pitton & Farley Parish Council – Pitton Village Hall, Playing Field, White Hill, Pitton, Salisbury
  • Mere Town Council – Castle Hill, Mere
  • National Trust – Avebury, High Street, Avebury
  • Malmesbury Town Council – Lower High Street, Malmesbury
  • Stourton with Gasper Parish Council and Kilmington Parish Council in partnership with the National Trust – Whitesheet Hill. Tollard Royal Parish Council
  • Stanton St Bernard Parish Council – Milk Hill, Stanton St Bernard, Marlborough
  • Sutton Mandeville Parish Council – Manor Farm, Sutton Mendeville, Salisbury
  • Wiltshire Army Cadet Force & Devizes Town Council – Roundway Hill, Devizes