A network of flaming tributes to the Queen will stretch throughout the country on Thursday.

Beacons marking the Platinum Jubilee will be lit at 9.45pm sites including the Tower of London, Windsor Great Park, Hillsborough Castle and the Queen’s estates of Sandringham and Balmoral, along with the tops of the UK’s four highest peaks.

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.

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 on to the Palace.

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The history of jubilee beacons

Lighting beacons to celebrate Royal Jubilees, Weddings and Coronations is a long-held tradition.

The flaming displays might appear 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.

In 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1977, 2002 and 2012, beacons commemorated the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of The Queen, and in 2016 Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

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

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

Platinum Jubilee beacons in Somerset

Somerset County Gazette: Lewis Wilde tests of one of the gas-fuelled beacons he has made which will be used to signal the start of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Picture: PALewis Wilde tests of one of the gas-fuelled beacons he has made which will be used to signal the start of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Picture: PA

Rotary Club of Taunton, Burrington Parish Council and Uphill Village Society – Tower, Uphill Hill

Long Ashton Community Association – Peel Park, Long Ashton Recreation Ground

Milton Clevedon Parish Council, St Cuthbert (Out) Parish Council and Winscombe and Sandford Jubilee Committee – Winscombe and Sandford

Glastonbury Town Council and National Trust – Glastonbury Tor

Porlock Parish Council – Porlock Recreation Ground, Porlock, Minehead

Ripland Farm – Ripland Farm, West Hatch, Taunton

Mid Somerset Show – Mid Somerset Showground, Cannards Grave, Shepton Mallet

Kingston Seymour Parish Council – Crossman's Wharf, alongside the Bristol Channel between Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare

Somerset Young Farmers – Godney Farm, Godney, near Wells

Winford Parish Council – Felton Common

West Huntspill Parish Council - Village Common, West Huntspill

Axbridge Town Council – Mendip Hills

Middlezoy Parish Council – Windmill Hill, Middlezoy

Brent Knoll Parish Council and The Royal British Legion – top of Brent Knoll

Wellington Town Council – Hilly Head, Wellington

Kilve Parish Council – Kilve Beach, Kilve

Stogumber Parish Council – The Beacon Field, Stogumber

Chewton Mendip Parish Council – Chewton Down, Chewton Mendip

Somerton Town Council – Somerton Sports Club, Somerton

Churchstanton Parish Council – precise location not specified

Chard Town Council – Crowshute Link & Mitchell Gardens, Chard

Pear Ash Farm – Pear Ash Farm, Pen Selwood, Wincanton

North Perrott Parish Council – Perrott Park, North Perrott, Crewkerne

North Curry Parish Council – North Curry

South Somerset District Council – Ham Hill Country Park, Stoke sub Hamdon

Trull Parish Council – Trull George V Playing Field, Trull

Haywood Village Platinum Jubilee Planning Group – Centre of the Village, Haywood Village, Western Super Mare

Abbas and Templecombe Parish Council – Recreation Ground, Abbas and Templecombe

Downside Abbey – Stratton on the Fosse

Royal Bath and West Show – Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet

Buckland Dinham Parish Council – precise location not specified

Croscombe Village Council – precise location not specified

Westbury Sub Mendip Parish Council and Priddy Parish Council – Deer Leap

Churchill and Langford Parish Council – Churchill Recreation Ground, Churchill

South Cadbury and Sutton Montis Parish Council – Cadbury Castle, South Cadbury

Knol Village Celebration – Top of Knol Hill, Knol

Burnham-on-Sea – Burnham-on-Sea Jetty

Highbridge Town Council – St Johns Church, Highbridge

Gordonions – Orchard adjacent to Portbury House, Portbury

Ilminster Town Council – The Beacon, Beacon Hill, Ilminster

Wembdon Parish Council – Wembdon Allotments, Wembdon

Village of Compton Bishop and Cross – Crook Peak

Chedzoy Parish Council – Chedzoy Village Hall grounds, Chedzoy

Clatworthy Parish Council and Village – Ralegh's Cross, Brendon Hill, Watchet

Wedmore Jubilee Committee – The Wedmore Beacon, Manor Field, Wedmore

Stawell and Sutton Mallet Parish Council and Village Hall – Stawell

Midsomer Norton Town Council – Midsomer Norton Rugby Club, Midsomer Norton, Radstock

Bawdrip Parish Council – Peasey Farm, Bawdrip, Bridgewater

Witham Friary Parish Council – Sports Field, Witham Friary

Abbas and Templecombe Parish Council – Templecombe Recreation and Sports Club, Templecombe

National Trust – Brean Down

National Trust – Burrow Mump

National Trust – Dunkery Beacon

National Trust – Crook Peak

National Trust – Staple Plain

National Trust – Wellington Monument

West Pennard Village Hall – West Pennard

Barrington Parish Council – Village Hall, Barrington

Nempnett Village Hall Committee – Nempnett Thrubwell Village Hall, Nempnett, Thrubwell

Chillington – Field off the A30 midway between Crewkerne and Chard

Cranmore Parish Council – Cranmore Tower, Cranmore

Moorlinch Good Neighbours Social Committee – The Hill, Spring Farm, Moorlinch, Bridgwater

Otterhampton Parish Recreation Association – Combwich Common, Combwich, Bridgwater

Williton Parish Council – Williton War Memrial Recreation Ground, Williton

Hockworthy Church (St Simon & St Jude) and Borden Gate Parish Council – Hole Farm

Bath and North East Somerset Council – City Centre, Bath