The Queen's 90th Birthday

:00:00. > :00:00.This is BBC News, let us cross to Windsor now and join Jane Hill and

:00:00. > :00:07.the celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday.

:00:08. > :00:10.Good evening, and welcome to BBC News from Windsor Castle,

:00:11. > :00:12.where thousands of people have gathered to wish the Queen

:00:13. > :00:28.We saw of course fantastic scenes out in the streets of Windsor, a

:00:29. > :00:32.little earlier today. Bright sunshine greeted the Queen and the

:00:33. > :00:35.Duke of Edinburgh as they left the castle here, and made their way

:00:36. > :00:40.round the streets immediately outside the castle. Thousands of

:00:41. > :00:46.people had gathered and now, in the next few moments, we will see the

:00:47. > :00:51.Queen light the first of the beacons. The first beacon of perhaps

:00:52. > :00:57.as many as one thousand, across the UK and indeed in Commonwealth

:00:58. > :01:06.countries, to celebrate her 90th birthday. Let us head to one of

:01:07. > :01:12.those wee beacon, let us talk to Danny Vang in West Yorkshire. --

:01:13. > :01:15.savage. Let us talk us there what will happen? It is a beautiful

:01:16. > :01:19.evening here in Yorkshire tonight. You can see behind me one of the

:01:20. > :01:23.many beacons that is ready to go up in the next hour or so. There will

:01:24. > :01:27.be probably hanging own until dusk here before they light it, but this

:01:28. > :01:33.is a high vantage point in this part of Yorkshire, I can see across the

:01:34. > :01:37.Vale of York, I can see York Minster in the distance and ear beacons as

:01:38. > :01:43.they light up will be visible here as well. We are up at another one,

:01:44. > :01:47.which will be a gas beacon, lots of them are simple gas burners they

:01:48. > :01:52.have been put on peaks and different points of interest round the country

:01:53. > :01:57.this evening, to be lit. Others are your more bra additional bonfire you

:01:58. > :02:03.might see on November 9th. Different cadet organisations have gone up the

:02:04. > :02:08.highest peaks today, the light beacons up there, so snoedsen, scar

:02:09. > :02:13.fell, Ben Nevis you will see beacons being lit tonight. All following on

:02:14. > :02:17.from what Her Majesty will be doing very shorely, and lighting the

:02:18. > :02:20.beacon where she is this evening and those others will be lit round the

:02:21. > :02:24.country as well. So about 1,000 of them, a few people starting to

:02:25. > :02:29.gather here at this one, in West Yorkshire, but this will be a seen

:02:30. > :02:32.that is repeated all over the UK this evening, as though beacons are

:02:33. > :02:38.lit round the country, setting up a chain across the UK.

:02:39. > :02:43.Danny, what a wonderful evening indeed. As you say thank you very

:02:44. > :02:47.much. More from Danny a little later. Let us reflect on what we can

:02:48. > :02:52.expect, reflect on the day that has been an talk a bit about what is to

:02:53. > :02:55.come in the next little while, of course our royal correspondent

:02:56. > :03:00.Nicholas is with me and has been watching the day's events so far. A

:03:01. > :03:02.quick taster about the next little while, this is the last public

:03:03. > :03:09.engagement some private family celebrations.

:03:10. > :03:12.Few to beat when it comes to lighting beacon, the number of times

:03:13. > :03:20.this has happened. Most things she has done a number of times but we

:03:21. > :03:24.have had beacon, for major birthdays for jubilee, for the anniversary of

:03:25. > :03:28.VE Day so she will come out the Prince of Wales is hosting this

:03:29. > :03:31.event, he will say a few words and then she will press a button or

:03:32. > :03:35.strike a match or whatever you do when you light a beacon and up it

:03:36. > :03:39.will go, that will be the signal for this chain of beacons round this

:03:40. > :03:42.country and in some of the Commonwealth countries, the

:03:43. > :03:48.impression is she is really enjoying the day, that I think was the strong

:03:49. > :03:51.impression watching her this morning out in Windsor, I think she has

:03:52. > :03:57.reached the stage where she is so much more relaxed in her role, she

:03:58. > :04:02.is able to enjoy the praise, the affection of people. Now people who

:04:03. > :04:06.come to Windsor on a day like this are bound to be enthusiast, they are

:04:07. > :04:13.monarchists through and through, we can say that is safely. Some camping

:04:14. > :04:17.out. She enjoys its. She is not an actress, if she is not enjoying

:04:18. > :04:21.something it becomes apparent. Judging by her expression today she

:04:22. > :04:25.was enjoying the affection, and the respect that was so apparent from

:04:26. > :04:32.the crowds. One of the things we heard about from the walk about

:04:33. > :04:35.earlier today, in the town, was Hugo Vickers who felt that the Queen and

:04:36. > :04:39.the Duke of Edinburgh were going up to children a lot, really making a

:04:40. > :04:43.point of that. Now, you may tell me that is something that frequently

:04:44. > :04:49.happens but he thought that was quite striking on this specific day,

:04:50. > :04:53.that sense that these are the next generation obviously, and one hopes

:04:54. > :04:57.she would want them to be supporting the monarchy. They don't want to

:04:58. > :05:00.disappoint anybody, if children are brought out from school for a

:05:01. > :05:04.special occasion like this they are conscious that people are there to

:05:05. > :05:08.see the Queen, particularly, the Duke of Edinburgh is always there in

:05:09. > :05:12.support. I have seen him lifting children up from behind barrier, to

:05:13. > :05:15.bring them across so they have a chance to present their bouquets to

:05:16. > :05:21.the Queen, and he wasn't doing that today, perhaps at the age of nearly

:05:22. > :05:26.9 a 5 that is not wise to be doing. It was a cross section in terms of

:05:27. > :05:31.age and every other profile of people out there. They try to

:05:32. > :05:36.satisfy the aspirations of people who come to events such as this, to

:05:37. > :05:40.leave as few people as disappointed as possible. It is impossible take

:05:41. > :05:44.all the cards, the flower, but they, I think make an effort on occasions

:05:45. > :05:49.such as this to meet people as much as possible. Yes. Well, stay with us

:05:50. > :05:55.of course, we have lots more to talk about, in the next little while. We

:05:56. > :06:00.are building up to the lighting of the first beacon and then many, many

:06:01. > :06:03.more besides. Let us head to our correspondent Chris Page, he is in

:06:04. > :06:10.Belfast, Chris, talk us through what is happening where you are.

:06:11. > :06:14.Yes, this is the scene of the beacon lighting in Belfast, Belfast City

:06:15. > :06:17.Hall here splendid old domed building the Queen has visited on

:06:18. > :06:21.numerous occasion, so no more appropriate place I should think.

:06:22. > :06:25.The beacon has arrived. It is over there, final preparations are taking

:06:26. > :06:29.players what is going to that, just before 7.30 the Queen's

:06:30. > :06:32.representative in the city of Belfast, the Lord Lieutenant will

:06:33. > :06:35.read a message from the monarch and the beacon will be lit. There will

:06:36. > :06:42.be three people involved in that the deputy Lord Mayor and two residents

:06:43. > :06:49.of the city, both of whom are celebrating their 90th birthday too.

:06:50. > :06:59.Other beacons being lit in Northern Ireland tonight. Fermanagh is the

:07:00. > :07:07.most westerly place where one will be lit. On this occasion she cede

:07:08. > :07:11.there is no woman in public life she admires more, so that will be taking

:07:12. > :07:16.place in the Cathedral in Enniskillen, place where the Queen

:07:17. > :07:22.visited in 2012, on her jubilee tour, and then she took part in a

:07:23. > :07:26.symbolic act of reconciliation, she attended a service in the Anglican

:07:27. > :07:31.Cathedral and then visited a Roman Catholic Church. To pay tribute

:07:32. > :07:36.whenever the beacon is lit two additional beams of light will be

:07:37. > :07:40.projected into the night sky so they cross, and where they intersect,

:07:41. > :07:46.hundreds of feet above the town of Enniskillen. Than will symbolic,

:07:47. > :07:48.very moving, very meaningful and one of the highlights of the

:07:49. > :07:51.celebrations here in Northern Ireland.

:07:52. > :07:59.Won't it. Chris, thank you, more from you later.

:08:00. > :08:05.So, we are building up, we hope, to seeing members of the royal party

:08:06. > :08:09.make their way here, from Windsor Castle, down to the beacon lighting.

:08:10. > :08:15.And our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell will be watching all of

:08:16. > :08:19.these events with me. And it is about symbolism. It S Cambridge

:08:20. > :08:24.gate. That is where the beacon is we are looking at. A short distance

:08:25. > :08:27.from Windsor Castle. Not far for them to travel. The Queen will come

:08:28. > :08:32.down from Windsor Castle and shortly people will be starting to gather

:08:33. > :08:36.for the dinner, that is taking place there tonight. The special 90th

:08:37. > :08:40.birthday dinner to be hosted by the Prince of Wales, he will be speaking

:08:41. > :08:44.at that dinner, expressing the family's feelings on this particular

:08:45. > :08:48.occasion and the extended Royal Family there will be will, not just

:08:49. > :08:52.the immediate family, the Gloucester, the Kent, cousins and

:08:53. > :08:58.other, and a number of friends, the total guest list is about 60 people

:08:59. > :09:01.thereabouts, but people who are genuinely friends of the Queen, many

:09:02. > :09:04.people who have known her much of her life, who were childhood friends

:09:05. > :09:09.of her, who would be perhaps rather the same age at her, but they are

:09:10. > :09:14.coming from different parts of the UK, for what is obviously a special

:09:15. > :09:17.occasion at Windsor Castle, this 90th birthday dinner and perhaps

:09:18. > :09:20.some surprise, I don't know if there is any entertainment planned. I

:09:21. > :09:25.wouldn't be surprised if there isn't something. There crowds at Cambridge

:09:26. > :09:28.gate just waiting. It is not the best of evenings at least it is dry.

:09:29. > :09:34.It is blustery, that can't be the best of things for the lighting of a

:09:35. > :09:38.Braizier or beacon, not sure what we should call it. There are the

:09:39. > :09:43.Footguards, the Coldstream Guards, they are poised and ready, when it

:09:44. > :09:48.all begin, we will have the National Anthem as you would expect as but

:09:49. > :09:54.were saying earlier, people of all ages, a lot of tourists come to

:09:55. > :09:59.Windsor, those who came today will have had the pleasure of seeing

:10:00. > :10:04.these events unfold. A lot of people from Berkshire, and further afield

:10:05. > :10:10.coming to Windsor for this particular occasion. And perhaps

:10:11. > :10:14.shortly we will see some of the vehicles arriving, bringing the

:10:15. > :10:19.Royal Family to Cambridge gate where this beacon lighting is to take

:10:20. > :10:23.place, that I would imagine is probably the Prince of Wales, but

:10:24. > :10:31.but let us look. That is what we expect. And yes, the Prince of

:10:32. > :10:35.Wales. And the Duchess of Cornwall. Prince of Wales who was quoting

:10:36. > :10:41.Shakespeare, hen Roy VIII and apposite it was, the quote that he

:10:42. > :10:45.chose, rather touching. It is a period of anniversary, this weekend

:10:46. > :10:49.we mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death so one of the

:10:50. > :10:53.other reasons that was chosen. . Yes, very appropriate to the

:10:54. > :10:57.occasion being greeted by the Lord Lieutenant nand and the mayor of

:10:58. > :11:07.Windsor and very other notables on the left there the man in charge of

:11:08. > :11:11.the beacons, Bruno Peak. He is the pageant master and responsible for

:11:12. > :11:16.beacons and drawing up guidelines for communities up and down the UK,

:11:17. > :11:23.who want to set up to light their own beacon, they don't all have to

:11:24. > :11:29.be as grand and stats we as the one that will be lit. Anything do with

:11:30. > :11:35.flames and pyrotechnic, he is the man to go to, he does fireworks as

:11:36. > :11:39.Edwards ducking there. Getting in Edwards ducking there. Getting in

:11:40. > :11:43.the way as ever. Says he with feeling having come back from India,

:11:44. > :11:47.bless him, after that shot, as he always is, but... Been photographing

:11:48. > :11:55.the Queen for many a year, hasn't he. Arthur Edwards As he frequently

:11:56. > :12:01.tells u a stall wart of the royal press, pack, is Arthur, and of

:12:02. > :12:05.course on the spot there, for this last public event on tb Queen's 90th

:12:06. > :12:09.birthday. Prince of Wales, looking round to see what is happening and

:12:10. > :12:14.the Duchess of Cornwall there. With him. And his private secretary,

:12:15. > :12:19.these are some of the people you don't often see his private

:12:20. > :12:28.secretary on the left there, Clive aldeson, formally of the Foreign

:12:29. > :12:32.Office, now his principle adviser. And we should see the Queen fairly

:12:33. > :12:37.soon, what is it? Just about two minutes to seven, so I think she

:12:38. > :12:43.will be merging from Windsor Castle, coming down the incline that the

:12:44. > :12:48.long walk from the castle, poised to press the button or whatever it is

:12:49. > :12:53.that we expect her to do. And that will signal for the lighting of the

:12:54. > :12:58.further beacons, across the United Kingdom, up in Yorkshire, across in

:12:59. > :13:02.Belfast and in the dam cities of the UK, and quite a few other places, --

:13:03. > :13:07.capital and into the Commonwealth and we must not forget the beacons

:13:08. > :13:13.placed on the tops of some of the highest mountain, Ben Nevis in

:13:14. > :13:19.Scotland, Snowdon, Scafell Pike in England and one in Northern Ireland.

:13:20. > :13:23.Some very robust army cadets I think have been hiking... They were

:13:24. > :13:27.charged with that earlier in the day, taking it to the four highest

:13:28. > :13:31.peaks, and the National Anthem, once the Queen arrives will be played by

:13:32. > :13:37.the band of the Coldstream Guards, and I was speaking earlier this

:13:38. > :13:41.afternoon, to captain from the Coldstream Guards who took off his

:13:42. > :13:45.hat, and there will be people who know the correct title, there is my

:13:46. > :13:50.use of the word hat. He took it off to explain that he had hidden his

:13:51. > :13:54.birthday card for the Queen inside and he has been very pleased because

:13:55. > :14:01.earlier in the day he had indeed been able to present the birthday

:14:02. > :14:06.card to the Queen. Remarkable what you can hide in a bearskin. The

:14:07. > :14:16.officers have bigger ones than the soldier, so, yes.

:14:17. > :14:22.So all the celebrations today, for the Queen's 90th focussed here round

:14:23. > :14:27.Windsor. Essentially keeping it close to home, the birthday

:14:28. > :14:32.celebration, perhaps a nod to her quite remarkable age. But, true to

:14:33. > :14:36.her sense of duty and obligation, that we will talk more about over

:14:37. > :14:40.the course of the evening, she has chosen nonetheless to make two

:14:41. > :14:47.public engagements today and this is the second. So we are waiting for

:14:48. > :14:52.the arrival of the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh, the second of her

:14:53. > :14:57.public engagements before she can finally come back here to Windsor

:14:58. > :15:04.Castle, and enjoy a private family dinner.

:15:05. > :15:09.Last year of course she became the longest reigning monarch in British

:15:10. > :15:14.history. Today, and here we hope this is her car, today of course,

:15:15. > :15:16.she becomes the first British monarch to reach the remarkable age

:15:17. > :16:05.of 90. And welcome to viewers joining us

:16:06. > :16:11.now on the One Show. We are broadcasting live from Windsor

:16:12. > :16:24.Castle. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh about to arrive on this,

:16:25. > :16:28.the Queen's 90th birthday. Huge cheers. The Prince of Wales and

:16:29. > :16:32.Duchess of Cornwall awaiting the Queen's arrival. The Queen will

:16:33. > :16:36.shortly be writing a beacon to mark this milestone. Our Royal

:16:37. > :16:43.correspondent Nicholas Witchell is alongside me. As the Queen greets

:16:44. > :16:48.the mayor, the pageant master, who is in charge of the beacons of and

:16:49. > :16:53.down the country. A sensible headscarf. Sensible

:16:54. > :17:01.headgear, as ever. A blustery evening here in Windsor but now we

:17:02. > :17:07.are assembled I think we will hear the national anthem. I am sure the

:17:08. > :17:14.Duke of Edinburgh has views on beacons. As he often says, he is one

:17:15. > :17:20.of the expert openers and beacons igniters. Bruno Peake, the man who

:17:21. > :17:29.has put together the whole beacons programme. He was always on hand for

:17:30. > :17:33.these pyrotechnic displays, whether they be pyrotechnics or displays.

:17:34. > :17:38.There is the torch. Not quite ready for that moment yet. The lighting of

:17:39. > :17:43.the torch. I presume they are going to play the national anthem. The

:17:44. > :17:48.band will be getting ready for the playing of the national anthem. They

:17:49. > :17:53.don't look as though they quite know where to stand but I am sure it has

:17:54. > :17:56.all been carefully worked out. The Queen looking up at the sky. We have

:17:57. > :18:41.been very fortunate, actually... And we expect a short address from

:18:42. > :18:52.the Prince of Wales. Your Majesty, money. -- mother. I find it very

:18:53. > :18:57.hard to believe you have reached your 90th year and I suddenly

:18:58. > :19:06.realised the other day that I have no nuisance you were 22 years old.

:19:07. > :19:11.-- I have known you. This is, ladies and gentlemen, a very special

:19:12. > :19:21.occasion. And the week and that Her Majesty is about to light -- the

:19:22. > :19:25.Beacon will also represent, as it likes other beacons across the

:19:26. > :19:35.nation, the love and affection in which you are held throughout this

:19:36. > :19:44.country and the Commonwealth. Ladies and gentlemen, can we wish her a the

:19:45. > :19:48.most special and the happiest of birthdays on this occasion? And long

:19:49. > :20:05.may you reign over us. Now, ladies and gentlemen, can I ask

:20:06. > :20:12.you as well if you could raise three very special cheers for Her Majesty

:20:13. > :20:18.on this special occasion? And if they are loud enough, it might just

:20:19. > :20:28.work to light the other beacons by spontaneous combustion.

:20:29. > :20:56.We are told as the Beacon is lit, the bells will ring from right

:20:57. > :21:02.behind where we ask landing. This hasn't always gone right, these

:21:03. > :21:08.moments when they light beacons. It looks a splendid views. The torch

:21:09. > :21:20.has been applied. It has got to go all the way down there. Here we are.

:21:21. > :21:27.Yes. A lot of smoke anyway. I can't see a flame. I am hoping that is

:21:28. > :21:41.sufficient. We will find out momentarily. Yes, well. I can see a

:21:42. > :21:44.slight suspicion of smoke at the top. And happy birthdays Lane. What

:21:45. > :22:15.else? -- happy birthday is playing. It is taking light now. Yes

:22:16. > :22:19.gathering. The Queen is now taken by the pageant master, the man in

:22:20. > :22:25.charge of beacons up and down the UK, and he is due to show her

:22:26. > :22:32.several others close by. He thought being that this is the initial

:22:33. > :22:39.Beacon in a chain of perhaps as many as 1000 across UK and Commonwealth

:22:40. > :22:43.countries. And the rents of Wales, in those few remarks of his that we

:22:44. > :22:49.heard, saying that this Beacon and others represent the love and

:22:50. > :22:54.affection in which the Queen is held in this country and across the

:22:55. > :22:59.Commonwealth. And that, perhaps, is correct for this. Love and affection

:23:00. > :23:06.are not concepts that perhaps the Queen would readily aspire to or

:23:07. > :23:11.expect from the people of this country but Duke of Edinburgh wants

:23:12. > :23:14.said that when we are in, there will be a degree of reference was to

:23:15. > :23:24.gain. I think we have reached that point. Now she is 90. The Duke will

:23:25. > :23:29.be 95 shortly. There is the respect and reverence now. We saw evidence

:23:30. > :23:34.of it during the walk about in Windsor this morning. She is much

:23:35. > :23:39.more at ease and comfortable now and enjoying her 90th birthday with more

:23:40. > :23:44.things to enjoy this evening. This dinner at which her family and her

:23:45. > :23:51.closest of friends, people who have known her through the decades will

:23:52. > :23:56.be attending. I think they are now looking at another Beacon which is

:23:57. > :24:03.further down the long walk. Hopefully, that, too, has lit. It is

:24:04. > :24:09.not exactly bursting into flames but perhaps it will. It is making a lot

:24:10. > :24:17.but as we can see there is flame there as well. It may yet. It is a

:24:18. > :24:21.blustery evening so it may yet. But around the country as we speak,

:24:22. > :24:29.people are presumably striking matches and giving the two complete

:24:30. > :24:35.the chain of beacons, 1000 beacons. The Duke of Edinburgh looks rather

:24:36. > :24:42.amused by it all. He has seen it all before, of course. Now into the cars

:24:43. > :24:51.and back, I dare say, perhaps for a little refreshment and dinner. And

:24:52. > :24:58.the Duke of Edinburgh, we are told, has been given a gift this evening-

:24:59. > :25:06.a copy of the Beacon guidebook. The very things on an occasion such as

:25:07. > :25:17.this for the top the guidebook with Mac well -- such as this. The

:25:18. > :25:18.guidebook? And they are going to return to a Private dealer for

:25:19. > :25:37.family and friends. Do you think that the Queen will be

:25:38. > :25:44.coming back here to Windsor Castle, where we are satisfied that was a

:25:45. > :25:49.birthday that went extremely well? I know the private element are yet to

:25:50. > :25:54.come but in terms of the public events, the sun was shining when it

:25:55. > :25:57.wasn't in forecasts and the crowds turned out in great strength around

:25:58. > :26:03.here in Windsor? I think she will have been very pleased about this

:26:04. > :26:06.morning. As we were saying earlier, she looked as though she was

:26:07. > :26:15.enjoying the walkabout this morning. I am not sure that was right the

:26:16. > :26:20.most spectacular of lighting is that we have ever seen. I am not quite

:26:21. > :26:25.sure what happened to the bells we were promised from St George 's

:26:26. > :26:31.Chapel. Perhaps they were watching the Beacon lighting for getting back

:26:32. > :26:34.to the bell-ringing. Getting back to the castle is not at the end of the

:26:35. > :26:41.day but at the end of the public component. The walkabout and Beacon

:26:42. > :26:46.lighting and now they can enjoy themselves over dinner. Let's just

:26:47. > :26:51.see some of the other beacons that have the lit in other parts of the

:26:52. > :26:58.country. It is a process over an hour or two. This is the scene at

:26:59. > :27:04.Whitby Abbey. Perhaps that is more like what we were expecting to see.

:27:05. > :27:09.That is what I call a Beacon. And that is in Shetland. This takes us

:27:10. > :27:15.to the heart of all the advice and instructions that come from Bruno

:27:16. > :27:20.Peake, the man that we saw there, the pageant master. He sends out

:27:21. > :27:23.quite detailed guidance to communities across the country,

:27:24. > :27:26.making it clear that the Beacon can be effectively what you make of it.

:27:27. > :27:37.They don't all have to be the grand struck the that we just saw the

:27:38. > :27:42.green light. His instructions to say -- do say that it can be the kind of

:27:43. > :27:55.thing that we can see here in Shetland. Make it safe, he says, but

:27:56. > :28:00.beyond that, the choice is yours 's. You would see that from a good way

:28:01. > :28:05.away. The Vikings must be used to this business because they were

:28:06. > :28:11.pretty good at it in times gone by, signalling from one place to another

:28:12. > :28:18.with a Beacon. Can we see Carlisle? I think that is where we are headed

:28:19. > :28:23.next. Again, that Beacon is beautifully alight and I noticed as

:28:24. > :28:28.well in Bruno Peake's instructions that were sent out the comforting

:28:29. > :28:35.phrase, beacons are stable in high wind. That is getting assistance

:28:36. > :28:41.from a gas canister or something, which I would say is rather

:28:42. > :28:47.cheating. It is certainly well alight. I think immunities were

:28:48. > :28:52.allowed to buy a gas canister to go with it if they felt it was

:28:53. > :28:56.necessary. Here in Windsor it wasn't considered appropriate. I think they

:28:57. > :29:02.could have done with one here in Windsor but not to worry, it has

:29:03. > :29:08.done the trick. Where are we going next? The Army Cadet took beacons to

:29:09. > :29:15.the four highest point in the UK earlier today so there should be

:29:16. > :29:20.beacons, for example, an Ben Nevis, Scott Pike. I think we can head to

:29:21. > :29:25.Belfast to as well. Quite the celebration is planned there. Chris,

:29:26. > :29:34.let's return to Chris Page, who is in Belfast. I am waiting until I see

:29:35. > :29:38.him because... Hello, good to see you again. I was waiting to see what

:29:39. > :29:43.is happening where you are full top talk us through. Well, the Beacon

:29:44. > :29:49.has just arrived. That's going to be at the centre of the event. The

:29:50. > :29:54.Salvation Army band has just come out and they will tune up. We might

:29:55. > :30:01.hear a couple of songs, happy birthday and the national anthem.

:30:02. > :30:06.The Beacon will be lit in about quarter of an hour's time. The two

:30:07. > :30:10.men taking part in that event are two people from the city of alpha is

:30:11. > :30:17.who will both celebrate their 90th birthday on the same day as the

:30:18. > :30:22.Queen. -- the city of Belfast. They are also celebrating the nine

:30:23. > :30:29.centuries. Albert Muir from the east of the city and Henderson, from the

:30:30. > :30:34.south of the city. It will be a memorable evening for them. The

:30:35. > :30:38.Queen 's representative here will be taking part, as will the Deputy Lord

:30:39. > :30:43.Mayor of the city and various members of Belfast city can go forth

:30:44. > :30:48.top the City Hall is the home of the City Council, one of the best known

:30:49. > :30:53.buildings in Belfast. The Queen herself has visited here on numerous

:30:54. > :30:58.occasions so it is right in the heart of the city. Plenty of other

:30:59. > :31:07.events happening. County Antrim. A town with royal connections. It is

:31:08. > :31:18.one of Prince William's official titles, Carrickfergus. And also, the

:31:19. > :31:24.most with Lee event UK is happening Enniskillen, in the cathedral where

:31:25. > :31:26.the storm and First Minister, the leader of the Democratic Unionist

:31:27. > :31:30.party, will be attending. A special element to that event in particular

:31:31. > :31:35.because there are going to be two additional beams of light project

:31:36. > :31:42.alongside the Beacon into the night sky, and God so that they intersect.

:31:43. > :31:48.That happened when the Queen visited the town. She was over and visited a

:31:49. > :31:54.Roman Catholic Church as well and that was seen as an important act of

:31:55. > :31:57.reconciliation and commemorates the Queen crossing the road into the

:31:58. > :32:03.Catholic Church. There will be a crossing of the lights in

:32:04. > :32:09.Enniskillen tonight. A symbolic gesture. Here, final preparations

:32:10. > :32:11.are underway for what will be a very important event for everyone attend

:32:12. > :32:18.him. Thank you, Chris. -- attending. We

:32:19. > :32:24.are looking at pictures from just outside Windsor Castle and Nick,

:32:25. > :32:29.that is what an ignited Beacon looks like. Looking fantastic. It is.

:32:30. > :32:34.There is no denying it is little of it is that the very early in the

:32:35. > :32:37.evening and on previous occasions they have generally had Beacon

:32:38. > :32:42.lighting later in the evening when it is dusk. This, of course, has

:32:43. > :32:47.been governed by the fact they have to get back to the castle in time

:32:48. > :32:53.for dinner, which is giving at eight o'clock. This has been a Beacon

:32:54. > :32:59.lighting in the night, as it were. The, indeed, it is alight. Perhaps

:33:00. > :33:03.we are going over to Shetland. It is going to be very light over there.

:33:04. > :33:17.Yes, it is night and it is alight. And let's return as well and talk to

:33:18. > :33:22.Danny Savage. It was a beautiful evening when we look to Danny half

:33:23. > :33:27.an hour ago. Full evening where he is in Yorkshire. Danny, I hope you

:33:28. > :33:32.can bring us up to date with what is happening the quiz back good evening

:33:33. > :33:39.from the edge of the Vale of York. We are in West Yorkshire and says

:33:40. > :33:43.bonfire is going spectacularly at the moment. Doing really well. It

:33:44. > :33:47.was lit a few moments ago and I think they poured quite a knot of

:33:48. > :33:51.petrol on it to keep it going. I will step out the way because there

:33:52. > :33:54.is a good couple of hundred people here from this west Yorkshire

:33:55. > :33:59.village that have come out to have a drink, get a burger and something

:34:00. > :34:05.from the barbecue and, to mark the Queen's birthday. This is one of

:34:06. > :34:09.many beacons in the region being lit across Yorkshire. Some of them are

:34:10. > :34:14.just small, dimple gas burners on top of a hill full op they will

:34:15. > :34:20.probably get lit a little bit later on when it is more towards dusk.

:34:21. > :34:23.This one was a little bit earlier to cater for the young families in the

:34:24. > :34:29.village, so they can take part for the top it was lit by the Deputy

:34:30. > :34:34.Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire. He did the honours and it got going very

:34:35. > :34:38.quickly. It will be seen from miles around in this location for the top

:34:39. > :34:44.over in this part of Yorkshire you can see right across the Vale of

:34:45. > :34:49.York, over to the hills in the East and the North York Moors as well. As

:34:50. > :34:53.somebody pointed out to me, this is how we spread messages and send

:34:54. > :34:58.signals in many years gone by, with a chain of beacons being lit across

:34:59. > :35:04.the country and this is one of about 1000. A big one here in Yorkshire

:35:05. > :35:09.and several others in the region, with some on some of the highest

:35:10. > :35:13.peaks in the UK. It is a cross between November the 5th and a

:35:14. > :35:17.summer barbecue. We have the weather and we don't have the darkness and

:35:18. > :35:21.the misery of November the 5th. It seems like a nice spring evening and

:35:22. > :35:26.lots of evil have turned out in the fine weather to help us celebrate

:35:27. > :35:29.this tonight. Danny, a quick thought about what

:35:30. > :35:37.have people been saying to you? Do they see it as part of celebrations

:35:38. > :35:42.for a remarkable birthday? Or is it just a lovely excuse for a good

:35:43. > :35:46.community get-together? Well, of course it is an excuse for a

:35:47. > :35:51.community get-together but we are on a weekday evening so it isn't the

:35:52. > :35:56.usual time to have such an event. In this area there were signs up now

:35:57. > :36:01.for the last couple of weeks saying this was taking place, saying it was

:36:02. > :36:05.happening. People have just got organised and brought out the

:36:06. > :36:12.barbecue, selling a few beers. They are making an evening of it because

:36:13. > :36:17.it is the. Yes, they are here of course the the Queen's 90th birthday

:36:18. > :36:20.celebrations but it is also an excuse for communities to get

:36:21. > :36:27.together and share them social time together, like one of these huge

:36:28. > :36:31.bonfires, which do vary in size depending on where you are cross UK,

:36:32. > :36:36.and for young to run around and take part for the top they know the

:36:37. > :36:43.reason for being here but more importantly, it is a chance to get

:36:44. > :36:50.together socially full top enjoy the evening.

:36:51. > :36:57.That was Danny in west Yorkshire. Competing in the bonfire stakes,

:36:58. > :37:02.there they are on the Shetland Islands. That has been raging for

:37:03. > :37:08.some time and may have a while to go. Similar sentiments there I'm

:37:09. > :37:14.sure this. Let's return to Windsor, the focus of so much of today's

:37:15. > :37:23.celebration and the initial Beacon is well and truly alight. With 90

:37:24. > :37:29.marking the Queen's 90th birthday. Our Royal correspondent Daniela is

:37:30. > :37:38.with the crowds. Now it is looking quite beautiful. It is looking

:37:39. > :37:42.pretty good. The final stage of the Queen's public engagement on her

:37:43. > :37:47.90th birthday. The lighting of the Beacon. Joining me is the pageant

:37:48. > :37:52.master, Bruno Peake. How was it? Are you happy with how it is looking

:37:53. > :37:57.now? I think the Queen... 90th birthday went off with a bang. It

:37:58. > :38:07.was really good. Did it go to plan? It did. We had a good crowd and

:38:08. > :38:11.we've got 1261 across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, the Isle

:38:12. > :38:21.of Man and UK overseas Territories as well. He begins when it at a 15

:38:22. > :38:26.year on top of the four highest peaks by the Army cadets,

:38:27. > :38:33.representing the eve of the nations. Then the others are in it between

:38:34. > :38:37.7:30pm and 8:30pm. Did it take a little while to light or was that

:38:38. > :38:41.the plan? It looked like it was it a bit slow. It was the plan because we

:38:42. > :38:46.wanted to make sure that as they were leaving it was really starting

:38:47. > :38:51.to burn. If it went off too quickly it would have been too much theatre.

:38:52. > :38:55.And why beacons? They have been a great form of

:38:56. > :39:01.communication in this country for the jury but Vince Queen Victoria,

:39:02. > :39:06.and I am sure one of your viewers will tell me if I am wrong, they

:39:07. > :39:10.have been used for celebration. What better way to celebrate the

:39:11. > :39:15.birthday? I saw you having a chat with her.

:39:16. > :39:18.How did she is? She was in very good spirits,

:39:19. > :39:25.actually. What was she asking you about? I

:39:26. > :39:29.can't tell you that. But she liked the Beacon?

:39:30. > :39:33.Absolutely. From her body language and the way she was speaking to me,

:39:34. > :39:38.I believe she was very happy. She is now going to have a nice dinner with

:39:39. > :39:43.her family, which is very important. She has had a very long day, a great

:39:44. > :39:47.day, and what a way to finish off her birthday.

:39:48. > :39:51.Bruno Peake, well done. It all worked beautifully. The Queen now

:39:52. > :39:56.back inside Windsor Castle with her family. A big collection of the

:39:57. > :40:00.Royal family in side, even more than there would be at Sandringham at

:40:01. > :40:07.Christmas. All senior members of the Royal family there, along with

:40:08. > :40:13.friend and associate of the Queen. Daniela, thank you. Daniela at the

:40:14. > :40:18.Beacon down not far from here in Windsor. Let's talk about how the

:40:19. > :40:23.day has gone so far and what is ahead with Dickie Arbiter, who is

:40:24. > :40:27.with me. A former secretary to the Queen. We

:40:28. > :40:36.could do with one of those appear! It would be nice. What is your take

:40:37. > :40:41.on how the public elements of today have gone? It is a milestone for

:40:42. > :40:43.anyone, turning 90, but this is partial.

:40:44. > :40:52.It is a milestone for anybody, a milestone for the Queen because...

:40:53. > :40:57.She passed it, in 2007, the oldest monarch. I think there were more

:40:58. > :41:00.people today than when she turned 80 and I was worried at first the cos

:41:01. > :41:04.they were late in arriving but given the walkabout wasn't taking place

:41:05. > :41:09.until after midday, they timed it just right. The Walkabout was

:41:10. > :41:14.shorted indifference to the Queen... Age but afterwards there was a drive

:41:15. > :41:18.about and that was terrific because she was in an open topped Land

:41:19. > :41:25.Rover, she and Prince Philip were standing and everybody got a very

:41:26. > :41:28.good view. She looked as though she was enjoying every minute.

:41:29. > :41:35.She was smiling broadly throughout that event at lunchtime. And the

:41:36. > :41:38.car, as you mentioned, is a fantastic way for everyone to be

:41:39. > :41:45.able to see her. Is that something we will see more of this act we call

:41:46. > :41:52.it the green mobile. -- Queen mobile. She was smiling.

:41:53. > :41:58.Beaming. All morning it had been cloudy and overcast and cold and all

:41:59. > :42:03.of a set in the sun came out and it came out at just the right time.

:42:04. > :42:07.-- all of a sudden. What were your thoughts about the Private dinner

:42:08. > :42:12.that will get underway quite soon in the castle behind us. How much do we

:42:13. > :42:16.know? Will we ever know about the guest list, the food? Will we be

:42:17. > :42:21.given those details or is that the kind of thing that will remain

:42:22. > :42:23.private because it is such a special occasion?

:42:24. > :42:28.I think because it is a special occasion these things will trickle

:42:29. > :42:32.out and we will get to hear about it. It is a very special birthday

:42:33. > :42:36.because she is 90 and the whole family will be there. She has had

:42:37. > :42:41.the family around every Christmas but not everybody is able to make it

:42:42. > :42:49.but because this is special and there is a lot of room, everybody

:42:50. > :42:53.will turn out. I think she will be totally overwhelmed. I remember when

:42:54. > :42:56.she celebrated with Chris Philip her golden wedding anniversary I was

:42:57. > :43:01.invited to that and that was the first event at Windsor after the

:43:02. > :43:07.fire, just before the castle was reopened to visitors. It was a

:43:08. > :43:10.tremendous event and on that occasion, the family was there and

:43:11. > :43:15.kings and queens from continental Europe. It was interesting because

:43:16. > :43:19.you were free to walk down from Saint Georges and I told my friend

:43:20. > :43:23.there was the Queen of Denmark, the Queen of Belgium and the Queen of

:43:24. > :43:28.Spain for the top that was the sort of occasion it was and I expect it

:43:29. > :43:31.will be like that. Will she get presents from the

:43:32. > :43:36.family. I wonder what a grandchild gives the grandmother for the

:43:37. > :43:40.birthday when the grandmother is the Queen?

:43:41. > :43:46.It is difficult, isn't it? I would have thought the parents will have

:43:47. > :43:49.got them making things. We do it with our children, we have done it

:43:50. > :43:56.with our children and do it with our grandchildren. There is something

:43:57. > :44:01.about that which is appreciated by the parents and grandparents though

:44:02. > :44:04.I think that is an the cards. What do you give the woman who has

:44:05. > :44:10.everything? It is possible. Catherine was a marvel at Christmas

:44:11. > :44:17.when she gave the Queen a jar of chutney she made. I don't think she

:44:18. > :44:23.will repeat it. What do you give the person who has everything?

:44:24. > :44:29.Yes. The Beacon looks fantastic now. It looks very warm. We would quite

:44:30. > :44:36.like to stand there. Let's head to... I think we can go to own

:44:37. > :44:42.henge. Will is our correspondent at Stonehenge. Hello. What time are

:44:43. > :44:53.events kicking off where you are this evening?

:44:54. > :44:57.Stonehenge is one of the country's if not the world's most recognisable

:44:58. > :45:02.monuments. Archaeologist say it was construct within 2000 or 3000 BC,

:45:03. > :45:07.which makes it four and a half thousand years old. It has a huge

:45:08. > :45:13.history and tonight they are hoping to add to that history a new, brief

:45:14. > :45:17.chapter in that long history. They will like a beacon in honour of the

:45:18. > :45:22.Queen's 90th birthday. One of scores that will be lit across the county

:45:23. > :45:27.of Welcher and the UK, but this one is going to be something extra

:45:28. > :45:32.special. There will be 150 brownies, guides and rainbows who are going to

:45:33. > :45:38.sing happy birthday to the Queen once the Beacon has been lit.

:45:39. > :45:45.Itt. I have been told that is the correct

:45:46. > :45:49.wording they are able to sing this evening, alongside the beacon. I

:45:50. > :45:52.have spoken to some of the brownies before their performance and they

:45:53. > :45:57.are not nervous at all. They are really happy and excited to be part

:45:58. > :46:01.of this special occasion. They haven't had long to practise, they

:46:02. > :46:05.were only told a couple of weeks ago but the song is happy birthday which

:46:06. > :46:11.they know, it is a matter of them being able to turn up and be able to

:46:12. > :46:18.sing it together. The beacon here is being lit at about 7.45 and the

:46:19. > :46:23.Prime Minister said the Queen during her reign has been a rock of

:46:24. > :46:27.strength, so what more fitting a place, for a tribute to the Queen,

:46:28. > :46:31.than Stonehenge. So they are going to light the beacon, first of all

:46:32. > :46:33.they are going to hear a message from pram Prince Charles, then they

:46:34. > :46:38.will light the beacon and the brownies are going to sing after

:46:39. > :46:41.that. The beacon is located just to the right of Stonehenge, it is a

:46:42. > :46:45.special gas beacon that has been brought in for the occasion, they

:46:46. > :46:50.are not having one of the giant bonfire beacons but I have been told

:46:51. > :46:57.it is quite something to be allowed to a beacon at all and a celebration

:46:58. > :47:02.on this, which is a sacred place to some. The monument field of

:47:03. > :47:10.Stonehenge. We expect that to begin at 7.45.

:47:11. > :47:14.I was wondering about lighting beacons near Stonehenge. A massive

:47:15. > :47:19.satellite delay. We got there eventually. Thank goodness for that.

:47:20. > :47:25.We saw the images as well. Belfast City Hall. There is a lot happening

:47:26. > :47:33.in Belfast, we will be back there sure. The Queen's former press

:47:34. > :47:38.secretary is watching this with me, the scenes in Belfast, the Queen's

:47:39. > :47:44.visit to Ireland, and the work she has done in that regard, is is one

:47:45. > :47:48.of her, the crowning achievements, no pun intended, of recent years.

:47:49. > :47:52.Tremendous achievement, when you think the last sovereign that

:47:53. > :47:58.visited Ireland was 100 years prior to that, it was a tremendous

:47:59. > :48:04.achievement all the Troubles that existed, given the assassination of

:48:05. > :48:07.Lord mown batten, you know, she hoe mount put aen, she says things

:48:08. > :48:12.happen and you have to rank nice things happen but you have to move

:48:13. > :48:16.on, and this sort of, this visit, was a tremendous feather in her cap.

:48:17. > :48:21.The return vets by the President of Ireland.

:48:22. > :48:28.And I mention that because we know there are going to be a lot of nods

:48:29. > :48:34.to unification and the peace process as part of that there this evening.

:48:35. > :48:39.We will be back in Belfast later. If you are just joining us here on BBC

:48:40. > :48:45.News, the time after 7.30 and we are focussing as you might expect this

:48:46. > :48:51.evening, on the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations, and in within

:48:52. > :48:57.the last half an hour, Her Majesty has lit the beacon, the initial

:48:58. > :49:13.beacon in Windsor. And this was the scene just in the last half an hour.

:49:14. > :49:24.Light the fuse. Slight delay. There it goes.

:49:25. > :49:31.The bells have come in almost on cue, although it was a little while

:49:32. > :49:38.ago. We were nervous watching this in the last half an hour ago,

:49:39. > :49:41.because it took a very long time, to get to the rather resplendent state

:49:42. > :49:50.it was in, these are the pictures from 20 minutes ago, no far away

:49:51. > :49:55.from where we are. The love the way the Queen is looking, she has had

:49:56. > :50:02.her hair done and has a headscarf on. A very sensible approach. Let us

:50:03. > :50:07.head back, we can go see the scene again in Shetland. Our correspondent

:50:08. > :50:13.John Johnston is there. John, I hope you can hear us, hello to the

:50:14. > :50:18.Shetland isles and that is quite a bon fir raging, there we have been

:50:19. > :50:25.watching pictures from where you are for some time. -- bonfire. A good

:50:26. > :50:30.evening from Unst, the island above all else, we are closer to a Norway

:50:31. > :50:35.than to the Scottish mainland. Now, the bonfire was one of the first to

:50:36. > :50:42.be lit across the UK, it was lit about 7.10, and with me think

:50:43. > :50:47.evening, There is a Viking feel to this festival we have Christopher

:50:48. > :50:55.Rich. Tell us very much a North East tradition here in Shetland. Norse.

:50:56. > :51:00.That is right. A bit of a mix I would say, but, yes, we are here to

:51:01. > :51:05.light the bonfire really, and get cold. Gordon, you are chair of the

:51:06. > :51:10.Unst community council. The Queen visited here in the 60s. She did.

:51:11. > :51:15.She was here in 1963, I think she was presented with a Shetland pony

:51:16. > :51:19.and some knitwear, and so we have connections with the Queen going

:51:20. > :51:23.back a fair number of years now. And we have a little surprise, a little

:51:24. > :51:29.sing song for the Queen this evening. Yes, we the Queen, we are

:51:30. > :51:35.going to wish her happy birthday now, we have the squad to help join

:51:36. > :51:39.in with the singing. OK folks, are we ready.

:51:40. > :51:48.# Happy birthday to you # Happy birthday to you

:51:49. > :52:00.# Happy birthday Queen Elizabeth # Happy birthday to you. #

:52:01. > :52:04.CHEERING. What celebrations for the far north of Scotland tonight, for

:52:05. > :52:09.the Queen's 990th birthday. -- 90th birthday. Fantastic, thank

:52:10. > :52:14.you very much. There are many, many more to go. Remember, when we saw

:52:15. > :52:20.the Queen light the initial beacon, here in win, so in the last half an

:52:21. > :52:25.hour, that is the first of about 1,000 beacons, across the UK, and in

:52:26. > :52:31.various Commonwealth countries as well. A beacon that sends out a

:52:32. > :52:34.message, that is a simple of celebration.

:52:35. > :52:39.-- symbol. Hence that decision tonight to light the beacon in

:52:40. > :52:43.honour of the Queen's 90th birthday. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

:52:44. > :52:49.are now back here, at Windsor Castle, and in the next few minutes,

:52:50. > :52:55.a private dinner will get under way. Just family and a few close friends,

:52:56. > :53:00.we are told, that dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales. And that

:53:01. > :53:05.getting under way very shortly. We here at BBC News keeping an eye on

:53:06. > :53:09.all corners of the country, because there are many, many beacons to be

:53:10. > :53:13.lit yet, not all at the same time, there is many more to come,

:53:14. > :53:18.including the Tower of London, and all areas of the country, we know of

:53:19. > :53:23.course that army cadets have taken a beacon to the four highest points of

:53:24. > :53:28.the UK as well. So we will have much more from here, in Windsor, in the

:53:29. > :53:30.coming hours. For now, for the next few minutes I will return you to

:53:31. > :53:38.Rebecca, in the studio. Back to you. The American pop star,

:53:39. > :53:41.Prince, has died at his His publicist said he'd been

:53:42. > :53:45.suffering from ill health -- and had had to cancel

:53:46. > :53:48.two recent concerts.