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 Cornwall

Falmouth Packet: 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

English Heritage – Pendennis Castle

The Village of Polgooth – The Goffin, Polgooth

Torpoint Town Council – Rendel Park, Torpoint

Polperro Community Council – precise location not listed

Coronation Park Trust – Coronation Park, Launceston

Pelynt Parish Council – Tremaine Cross, Pelynt

Landewednack Parish Council – Lizard Recreation Ground, Beacon Terrace, the Lizard

East Looe Town Trust – The Wooldown, East Looe

Liskeard Town Council – Tower of St Martin’s Church, Liskeard

St Anthony-in-Meneage Parish Meeting – Roskruge Beacon

Cornwall Heritage Trust – Sancreed Beacon, near Penzance

Cornwall Heritage Trust – Castle an Dinas, St Columb

Perranzabuloe Parish Council – Chyanhale, Ponsmere Valley, Perranporth

Red Ruby Devons – Castle an Dinas, Nr Ludgvan, Penzance

Torpoint Town Council – Rendel Park, Torpoint

Mabe Parish Council – precise location not listed

Pentillie Castle – St Mellion, Saltash

Marazion Town Council – precise location not listed

Carlyon Parish Council – Sea Road Recreation Field, Carlyon Bay, St Austell

Philip Reed Esq, Under Sheriff of Cornwall – Mawnan Shear, Mawnan, Falmouth, (overlooking the Helford River)

Carlyon Parish Council – Sea Road Recreation Field, Carlyon Bay, St Austell

Carn Brea Parish Council – Rockfield, Carn Brea

Michaelstow Parish Council – The Beacon, Michaelstow

Penryn Town Council – Exchequer Quay, Penryn

St Austell Bay Parish Council – Charlestown Harbour, St Austell

Blisland Parish Council – Blisland Beacon, Tumrose Farm, Blisland, Bodmin

St Keverne Parish Council – Field adjacent to Lemon Street, St Keverne

Probus Village – precise location not listed

St Michael Penkivel Parish Council – Trewonnal St Michael, Penkivel, Truro

Cardinham Parish Council – Foredownd, Cardinham, Bodmin

Constantine Parish Council – Fleld to the south-east of Constantine

Langore Village Hall – Field adjacent to Langore Road, Langore

Padstow Town Council – Stile Field, Padstow (near the war memorial) and Trevone Green (near the beach)

National Trust – Chapel Carn Brea

National Trust – Boscastle

National Trust – Trelissick, Feoc, Nr Truro

St Ives Town Council – The Island, Porthmeor, St Ives

Village of Flushing and Mylor Parish Council – Bowling Green, Flushing, Mylor

Newquay Town Council – Huer's Hut, Newquay

Gwennap Head NCI Unit – Near Gwennap Head NCI Station

Bodmin Town Council – Bodmin Beacon, Bodmin

Marhamchurch Parish Council – Wooldown Farm, Marhamchurch, Bude

St Thomas Parish Council and Tregadillett Community Centre – Denmead, Tregadillett, St Thomas, Launceston

Sheviock Parish Council – Sheviock Parish, Trewickle

Lanivet Parish Council – Churchtown, Lanivet, Bodmin

Portreath Improvements Committ and Portreath Parish Council – Bandstand, Portreath

St Mabyn Parish Council – precise location not listed