The Queen's 90th Birthday BBC News Special

This is BBC News, let us cross to Windsor now and join Jane Hill and

the celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday.

Good evening, and welcome to BBC News from Windsor Castle,

where thousands of people have gathered to wish the Queen

We saw of course fantastic scenes out in the streets of Windsor, a

little earlier today. Bright sunshine greeted the Queen and the

Duke of Edinburgh as they left the castle here, and made their way

round the streets immediately outside the castle. Thousands of

people had gathered and now, in the next few moments, we will see the

Queen light the first of the beacons. The first beacon of perhaps

as many as one thousand, across the UK and indeed in Commonwealth

countries, to celebrate her 90th birthday. Let us head to one of

those wee beacon, let us talk to Danny Vang in West Yorkshire. --

savage. Let us talk us there what will happen? It is a beautiful

evening here in Yorkshire tonight. You can see behind me one of the

many beacons that is ready to go up in the next hour or so. There will

be probably hanging own until dusk here before they light it, but this

is a high vantage point in this part of Yorkshire, I can see across the

Vale of York, I can see York Minster in the distance and ear beacons as

they light up will be visible here as well. We are up at another one,

which will be a gas beacon, lots of them are simple gas burners they

have been put on peaks and different points of interest round the country

this evening, to be lit. Others are your more bra additional bonfire you

might see on November 9th. Different cadet organisations have gone up the

highest peaks today, the light beacons up there, so snoedsen, scar

fell, Ben Nevis you will see beacons being lit tonight. All following on

from what Her Majesty will be doing very shorely, and lighting the

beacon where she is this evening and those others will be lit round the

country as well. So about 1,000 of them, a few people starting to

gather here at this one, in West Yorkshire, but this will be a seen

that is repeated all over the UK this evening, as though beacons are

lit round the country, setting up a chain across the UK.

Danny, what a wonderful evening indeed. As you say thank you very

much. More from Danny a little later. Let us reflect on what we can

expect, reflect on the day that has been an talk a bit about what is to

come in the next little while, of course our royal correspondent

Nicholas is with me and has been watching the day's events so far. A

quick taster about the next little while, this is the last public

engagement some private family celebrations.

Few to beat when it comes to lighting beacon, the number of times

this has happened. Most things she has done a number of times but we

have had beacon, for major birthdays for jubilee, for the anniversary of

VE Day so she will come out the Prince of Wales is hosting this

event, he will say a few words and then she will press a button or

strike a match or whatever you do when you light a beacon and up it

will go, that will be the signal for this chain of beacons round this

country and in some of the Commonwealth countries, the

impression is she is really enjoying the day, that I think was the strong

impression watching her this morning out in Windsor, I think she has

reached the stage where she is so much more relaxed in her role, she

is able to enjoy the praise, the affection of people. Now people who

come to Windsor on a day like this are bound to be enthusiast, they are

monarchists through and through, we can say that is safely. Some camping

out. She enjoys its. She is not an actress, if she is not enjoying

something it becomes apparent. Judging by her expression today she

was enjoying the affection, and the respect that was so apparent from

the crowds. One of the things we heard about from the walk about

earlier today, in the town, was Hugo Vickers who felt that the Queen and

the Duke of Edinburgh were going up to children a lot, really making a

point of that. Now, you may tell me that is something that frequently

happens but he thought that was quite striking on this specific day,

that sense that these are the next generation obviously, and one hopes

she would want them to be supporting the monarchy. They don't want to

disappoint anybody, if children are brought out from school for a

special occasion like this they are conscious that people are there to

see the Queen, particularly, the Duke of Edinburgh is always there in

support. I have seen him lifting children up from behind barrier, to

bring them across so they have a chance to present their bouquets to

the Queen, and he wasn't doing that today, perhaps at the age of nearly

9 a 5 that is not wise to be doing. It was a cross section in terms of

age and every other profile of people out there. They try to

satisfy the aspirations of people who come to events such as this, to

leave as few people as disappointed as possible. It is impossible take

all the cards, the flower, but they, I think make an effort on occasions

such as this to meet people as much as possible. Yes. Well, stay with us

of course, we have lots more to talk about, in the next little while. We

are building up to the lighting of the first beacon and then many, many

more besides. Let us head to our correspondent Chris Page, he is in

Belfast, Chris, talk us through what is happening where you are.

Yes, this is the scene of the beacon lighting in Belfast, Belfast City

Hall here splendid old domed building the Queen has visited on

numerous occasion, so no more appropriate place I should think.

The beacon has arrived. It is over there, final preparations are taking

players what is going to that, just before 7.30 the Queen's

representative in the city of Belfast, the Lord Lieutenant will

read a message from the monarch and the beacon will be lit. There will

be three people involved in that the deputy Lord Mayor and two residents

of the city, both of whom are celebrating their 90th birthday too.

Other beacons being lit in Northern Ireland tonight. Fermanagh is the

most westerly place where one will be lit. On this occasion she cede

there is no woman in public life she admires more, so that will be taking

place in the Cathedral in Enniskillen, place where the Queen

visited in 2012, on her jubilee tour, and then she took part in a

symbolic act of reconciliation, she attended a service in the Anglican

Cathedral and then visited a Roman Catholic Church. To pay tribute

whenever the beacon is lit two additional beams of light will be

projected into the night sky so they cross, and where they intersect,

hundreds of feet above the town of Enniskillen. Than will symbolic,

very moving, very meaningful and one of the highlights of the

celebrations here in Northern Ireland.

Won't it. Chris, thank you, more from you later.

So, we are building up, we hope, to seeing members of the royal party

make their way here, from Windsor Castle, down to the beacon lighting.

And our royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell will be watching all of

these events with me. And it is about symbolism. It S Cambridge

gate. That is where the beacon is we are looking at. A short distance

from Windsor Castle. Not far for them to travel. The Queen will come

down from Windsor Castle and shortly people will be starting to gather

for the dinner, that is taking place there tonight. The special 90th

birthday dinner to be hosted by the Prince of Wales, he will be speaking

at that dinner, expressing the family's feelings on this particular

occasion and the extended Royal Family there will be will, not just

the immediate family, the Gloucester, the Kent, cousins and

other, and a number of friends, the total guest list is about 60 people

thereabouts, but people who are genuinely friends of the Queen, many

people who have known her much of her life, who were childhood friends

of her, who would be perhaps rather the same age at her, but they are

coming from different parts of the UK, for what is obviously a special

occasion at Windsor Castle, this 90th birthday dinner and perhaps

some surprise, I don't know if there is any entertainment planned. I

wouldn't be surprised if there isn't something. There crowds at Cambridge

gate just waiting. It is not the best of evenings at least it is dry.

It is blustery, that can't be the best of things for the lighting of a

Braizier or beacon, not sure what we should call it. There are the

Footguards, the Coldstream Guards, they are poised and ready, when it

all begin, we will have the National Anthem as you would expect as but

were saying earlier, people of all ages, a lot of tourists come to

Windsor, those who came today will have had the pleasure of seeing

these events unfold. A lot of people from Berkshire, and further afield

coming to Windsor for this particular occasion. And perhaps

shortly we will see some of the vehicles arriving, bringing the

Royal Family to Cambridge gate where this beacon lighting is to take

place, that I would imagine is probably the Prince of Wales, but

but let us look. That is what we expect. And yes, the Prince of

Wales. And the Duchess of Cornwall. Prince of Wales who was quoting

Shakespeare, hen Roy VIII and apposite it was, the quote that he

chose, rather touching. It is a period of anniversary, this weekend

we mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death so one of the

other reasons that was chosen. . Yes, very appropriate to the

occasion being greeted by the Lord Lieutenant nand and the mayor of

Windsor and very other notables on the left there the man in charge of

the beacons, Bruno Peak. He is the pageant master and responsible for

beacons and drawing up guidelines for communities up and down the UK,

who want to set up to light their own beacon, they don't all have to

be as grand and stats we as the one that will be lit. Anything do with

flames and pyrotechnic, he is the man to go to, he does fireworks as

Edwards ducking there. Getting in Edwards ducking there. Getting in

the way as ever. Says he with feeling having come back from India,

bless him, after that shot, as he always is, but... Been photographing

the Queen for many a year, hasn't he. Arthur Edwards As he frequently

tells u a stall wart of the royal press, pack, is Arthur, and of

course on the spot there, for this last public event on tb Queen's 90th

birthday. Prince of Wales, looking round to see what is happening and

the Duchess of Cornwall there. With him. And his private secretary,

these are some of the people you don't often see his private

secretary on the left there, Clive aldeson, formally of the Foreign

Office, now his principle adviser. And we should see the Queen fairly

soon, what is it? Just about two minutes to seven, so I think she

will be merging from Windsor Castle, coming down the incline that the

long walk from the castle, poised to press the button or whatever it is

that we expect her to do. And that will signal for the lighting of the

further beacons, across the United Kingdom, up in Yorkshire, across in

Belfast and in the dam cities of the UK, and quite a few other places, --

capital and into the Commonwealth and we must not forget the beacons

placed on the tops of some of the highest mountain, Ben Nevis in

Scotland, Snowdon, Scafell Pike in England and one in Northern Ireland.

Some very robust army cadets I think have been hiking... They were

charged with that earlier in the day, taking it to the four highest

peaks, and the National Anthem, once the Queen arrives will be played by

the band of the Coldstream Guards, and I was speaking earlier this

afternoon, to captain from the Coldstream Guards who took off his

hat, and there will be people who know the correct title, there is my

use of the word hat. He took it off to explain that he had hidden his

birthday card for the Queen inside and he has been very pleased because

earlier in the day he had indeed been able to present the birthday

card to the Queen. Remarkable what you can hide in a bearskin. The

officers have bigger ones than the soldier, so, yes.

So all the celebrations today, for the Queen's 90th focussed here round

Windsor. Essentially keeping it close to home, the birthday

celebration, perhaps a nod to her quite remarkable age. But, true to

her sense of duty and obligation, that we will talk more about over

the course of the evening, she has chosen nonetheless to make two

public engagements today and this is the second. So we are waiting for

the arrival of the Queen, and the Duke of Edinburgh, the second of her

public engagements before she can finally come back here to Windsor

Castle, and enjoy a private family dinner.

Last year of course she became the longest reigning monarch in British

history. Today, and here we hope this is her car, today of course,

she becomes the first British monarch to reach the remarkable age

of 90. And welcome to viewers joining us

now on the One Show. We are broadcasting live from Windsor

Castle. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh about to arrive on this,

the Queen's 90th birthday. Huge cheers. The Prince of Wales and

Duchess of Cornwall awaiting the Queen's arrival. The Queen will

shortly be writing a beacon to mark this milestone. Our Royal

correspondent Nicholas Witchell is alongside me. As the Queen greets

the mayor, the pageant master, who is in charge of the beacons of and

down the country. A sensible headscarf. Sensible

headgear, as ever. A blustery evening here in Windsor but now we

are assembled I think we will hear the national anthem. I am sure the

Duke of Edinburgh has views on beacons. As he often says, he is one

of the expert openers and beacons igniters. Bruno Peake, the man who

has put together the whole beacons programme. He was always on hand for

these pyrotechnic displays, whether they be pyrotechnics or displays.

There is the torch. Not quite ready for that moment yet. The lighting of

the torch. I presume they are going to play the national anthem. The

band will be getting ready for the playing of the national anthem. They

don't look as though they quite know where to stand but I am sure it has

all been carefully worked out. The Queen looking up at the sky. We have

been very fortunate, actually... And we expect a short address from

the Prince of Wales. Your Majesty, money. -- mother. I find it very

hard to believe you have reached your 90th year and I suddenly

realised the other day that I have no nuisance you were 22 years old.

-- I have known you. This is, ladies and gentlemen, a very special

occasion. And the week and that Her Majesty is about to light -- the

Beacon will also represent, as it likes other beacons across the

nation, the love and affection in which you are held throughout this

country and the Commonwealth. Ladies and gentlemen, can we wish her a the

most special and the happiest of birthdays on this occasion? And long

may you reign over us. Now, ladies and gentlemen, can I ask

you as well if you could raise three very special cheers for Her Majesty

on this special occasion? And if they are loud enough, it might just

work to light the other beacons by spontaneous combustion.

We are told as the Beacon is lit, the bells will ring from right

behind where we ask landing. This hasn't always gone right, these

moments when they light beacons. It looks a splendid views. The torch

has been applied. It has got to go all the way down there. Here we are.

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

sufficient. We will find out momentarily. Yes, well. I can see a

slight suspicion of smoke at the top. And happy birthdays Lane. What

else? -- happy birthday is playing. It is taking light now. Yes

gathering. The Queen is now taken by the pageant master, the man in

charge of beacons up and down the UK, and he is due to show her

several others close by. He thought being that this is the initial

Beacon in a chain of perhaps as many as 1000 across UK and Commonwealth

countries. And the rents of Wales, in those few remarks of his that we

heard, saying that this Beacon and others represent the love and

affection in which the Queen is held in this country and across the

Commonwealth. And that, perhaps, is correct for this. Love and affection

are not concepts that perhaps the Queen would readily aspire to or

expect from the people of this country but Duke of Edinburgh wants

said that when we are in, there will be a degree of reference was to

gain. I think we have reached that point. Now she is 90. The Duke will

be 95 shortly. There is the respect and reverence now. We saw evidence

of it during the walk about in Windsor this morning. She is much

more at ease and comfortable now and enjoying her 90th birthday with more

things to enjoy this evening. This dinner at which her family and her

closest of friends, people who have known her through the decades will

be attending. I think they are now looking at another Beacon which is

further down the long walk. Hopefully, that, too, has lit. It is

not exactly bursting into flames but perhaps it will. It is making a lot

but as we can see there is flame there as well. It may yet. It is a

blustery evening so it may yet. But around the country as we speak,

people are presumably striking matches and giving the two complete

the chain of beacons, 1000 beacons. The Duke of Edinburgh looks rather

amused by it all. He has seen it all before, of course. Now into the cars

and back, I dare say, perhaps for a little refreshment and dinner. And

the Duke of Edinburgh, we are told, has been given a gift this evening-

a copy of the Beacon guidebook. The very things on an occasion such as

this for the top the guidebook with Mac well -- such as this. The

guidebook? And they are going to return to a Private dealer for

family and friends. Do you think that the Queen will be

coming back here to Windsor Castle, where we are satisfied that was a

birthday that went extremely well? I know the private element are yet to

come but in terms of the public events, the sun was shining when it

wasn't in forecasts and the crowds turned out in great strength around

here in Windsor? I think she will have been very pleased about this

morning. As we were saying earlier, she looked as though she was

enjoying the walkabout this morning. I am not sure that was right the

most spectacular of lighting is that we have ever seen. I am not quite

sure what happened to the bells we were promised from St George 's

Chapel. Perhaps they were watching the Beacon lighting for getting back

to the bell-ringing. Getting back to the castle is not at the end of the

day but at the end of the public component. The walkabout and Beacon

lighting and now they can enjoy themselves over dinner. Let's just

see some of the other beacons that have the lit in other parts of the

country. It is a process over an hour or two. This is the scene at

Whitby Abbey. Perhaps that is more like what we were expecting to see.

That is what I call a Beacon. And that is in Shetland. This takes us

to the heart of all the advice and instructions that come from Bruno

Peake, the man that we saw there, the pageant master. He sends out

quite detailed guidance to communities across the country,

making it clear that the Beacon can be effectively what you make of it.

They don't all have to be the grand struck the that we just saw the

green light. His instructions to say -- do say that it can be the kind of

thing that we can see here in Shetland. Make it safe, he says, but

beyond that, the choice is yours 's. You would see that from a good way

away. The Vikings must be used to this business because they were

pretty good at it in times gone by, signalling from one place to another

with a Beacon. Can we see Carlisle? I think that is where we are headed

next. Again, that Beacon is beautifully alight and I noticed as

well in Bruno Peake's instructions that were sent out the comforting

phrase, beacons are stable in high wind. That is getting assistance

from a gas canister or something, which I would say is rather

cheating. It is certainly well alight. I think immunities were

allowed to buy a gas canister to go with it if they felt it was

necessary. Here in Windsor it wasn't considered appropriate. I think they

could have done with one here in Windsor but not to worry, it has

done the trick. Where are we going next? The Army Cadet took beacons to

the four highest point in the UK earlier today so there should be

beacons, for example, an Ben Nevis, Scott Pike. I think we can head to

Belfast to as well. Quite the celebration is planned there. Chris,

let's return to Chris Page, who is in Belfast. I am waiting until I see

him because... Hello, good to see you again. I was waiting to see what

is happening where you are full top talk us through. Well, the Beacon

has just arrived. That's going to be at the centre of the event. The

Salvation Army band has just come out and they will tune up. We might

hear a couple of songs, happy birthday and the national anthem.

The Beacon will be lit in about quarter of an hour's time. The two

men taking part in that event are two people from the city of alpha is

who will both celebrate their 90th birthday on the same day as the

Queen. -- the city of Belfast. They are also celebrating the nine

centuries. Albert Muir from the east of the city and Henderson, from the

south of the city. It will be a memorable evening for them. The

Queen 's representative here will be taking part, as will the Deputy Lord

Mayor of the city and various members of Belfast city can go forth

top the City Hall is the home of the City Council, one of the best known

buildings in Belfast. The Queen herself has visited here on numerous

occasions so it is right in the heart of the city. Plenty of other

events happening. County Antrim. A town with royal connections. It is

one of Prince William's official titles, Carrickfergus. And also, the

most with Lee event UK is happening Enniskillen, in the cathedral where

the storm and First Minister, the leader of the Democratic Unionist

party, will be attending. A special element to that event in particular

because there are going to be two additional beams of light project

alongside the Beacon into the night sky, and God so that they intersect.

That happened when the Queen visited the town. She was over and visited a

Roman Catholic Church as well and that was seen as an important act of

reconciliation and commemorates the Queen crossing the road into the

Catholic Church. There will be a crossing of the lights in

Enniskillen tonight. A symbolic gesture. Here, final preparations

are underway for what will be a very important event for everyone attend

him. Thank you, Chris. -- attending. We

are looking at pictures from just outside Windsor Castle and Nick,

that is what an ignited Beacon looks like. Looking fantastic. It is.

There is no denying it is little of it is that the very early in the

evening and on previous occasions they have generally had Beacon

lighting later in the evening when it is dusk. This, of course, has

been governed by the fact they have to get back to the castle in time

for dinner, which is giving at eight o'clock. This has been a Beacon

lighting in the night, as it were. The, indeed, it is alight. Perhaps

we are going over to Shetland. It is going to be very light over there.

Yes, it is night and it is alight. And let's return as well and talk to

Danny Savage. It was a beautiful evening when we look to Danny half

an hour ago. Full evening where he is in Yorkshire. Danny, I hope you

can bring us up to date with what is happening the quiz back good evening

from the edge of the Vale of York. We are in West Yorkshire and says

bonfire is going spectacularly at the moment. Doing really well. It

was lit a few moments ago and I think they poured quite a knot of

petrol on it to keep it going. I will step out the way because there

is a good couple of hundred people here from this west Yorkshire

village that have come out to have a drink, get a burger and something

from the barbecue and, to mark the Queen's birthday. This is one of

many beacons in the region being lit across Yorkshire. Some of them are

just small, dimple gas burners on top of a hill full op they will

probably get lit a little bit later on when it is more towards dusk.

This one was a little bit earlier to cater for the young families in the

village, so they can take part for the top it was lit by the Deputy

Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire. He did the honours and it got going very

quickly. It will be seen from miles around in this location for the top

over in this part of Yorkshire you can see right across the Vale of

York, over to the hills in the East and the North York Moors as well. As

somebody pointed out to me, this is how we spread messages and send

signals in many years gone by, with a chain of beacons being lit across

the country and this is one of about 1000. A big one here in Yorkshire

and several others in the region, with some on some of the highest

peaks in the UK. It is a cross between November the 5th and a

summer barbecue. We have the weather and we don't have the darkness and

the misery of November the 5th. It seems like a nice spring evening and

lots of evil have turned out in the fine weather to help us celebrate

this tonight. Danny, a quick thought about what

have people been saying to you? Do they see it as part of celebrations

for a remarkable birthday? Or is it just a lovely excuse for a good

community get-together? Well, of course it is an excuse for a

community get-together but we are on a weekday evening so it isn't the

usual time to have such an event. In this area there were signs up now

for the last couple of weeks saying this was taking place, saying it was

happening. People have just got organised and brought out the

barbecue, selling a few beers. They are making an evening of it because

it is the. Yes, they are here of course the the Queen's 90th birthday

celebrations but it is also an excuse for communities to get

together and share them social time together, like one of these huge

bonfires, which do vary in size depending on where you are cross UK,

and for young to run around and take part for the top they know the

reason for being here but more importantly, it is a chance to get

together socially full top enjoy the evening.

That was Danny in west Yorkshire. Competing in the bonfire stakes,

there they are on the Shetland Islands. That has been raging for

some time and may have a while to go. Similar sentiments there I'm

sure this. Let's return to Windsor, the focus of so much of today's

celebration and the initial Beacon is well and truly alight. With 90

marking the Queen's 90th birthday. Our Royal correspondent Daniela is

with the crowds. Now it is looking quite beautiful. It is looking

pretty good. The final stage of the Queen's public engagement on her

90th birthday. The lighting of the Beacon. Joining me is the pageant

master, Bruno Peake. How was it? Are you happy with how it is looking

now? I think the Queen... 90th birthday went off with a bang. It

was really good. Did it go to plan? It did. We had a good crowd and

we've got 1261 across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, the Isle

of Man and UK overseas Territories as well. He begins when it at a 15

year on top of the four highest peaks by the Army cadets,

representing the eve of the nations. Then the others are in it between

7:30pm and 8:30pm. Did it take a little while to light or was that

the plan? It looked like it was it a bit slow. It was the plan because we

wanted to make sure that as they were leaving it was really starting

to burn. If it went off too quickly it would have been too much theatre.

And why beacons? They have been a great form of

communication in this country for the jury but Vince Queen Victoria,

and I am sure one of your viewers will tell me if I am wrong, they

have been used for celebration. What better way to celebrate the

birthday? I saw you having a chat with her.

How did she is? She was in very good spirits,

actually. What was she asking you about? I

can't tell you that. But she liked the Beacon?

Absolutely. From her body language and the way she was speaking to me,

I believe she was very happy. She is now going to have a nice dinner with

her family, which is very important. She has had a very long day, a great

day, and what a way to finish off her birthday.

Bruno Peake, well done. It all worked beautifully. The Queen now

back inside Windsor Castle with her family. A big collection of the

Royal family in side, even more than there would be at Sandringham at

Christmas. All senior members of the Royal family there, along with

friend and associate of the Queen. Daniela, thank you. Daniela at the

Beacon down not far from here in Windsor. Let's talk about how the

day has gone so far and what is ahead with Dickie Arbiter, who is

with me. A former secretary to the Queen. We

could do with one of those appear! It would be nice. What is your take

on how the public elements of today have gone? It is a milestone for

anyone, turning 90, but this is partial.

It is a milestone for anybody, a milestone for the Queen because...

She passed it, in 2007, the oldest monarch. I think there were more

people today than when she turned 80 and I was worried at first the cos

they were late in arriving but given the walkabout wasn't taking place

until after midday, they timed it just right. The Walkabout was

shorted indifference to the Queen... Age but afterwards there was a drive

about and that was terrific because she was in an open topped Land

Rover, she and Prince Philip were standing and everybody got a very

good view. She looked as though she was enjoying every minute.

She was smiling broadly throughout that event at lunchtime. And the

car, as you mentioned, is a fantastic way for everyone to be

able to see her. Is that something we will see more of this act we call

it the green mobile. -- Queen mobile. She was smiling.

Beaming. All morning it had been cloudy and overcast and cold and all

of a set in the sun came out and it came out at just the right time.

-- all of a sudden. What were your thoughts about the Private dinner

that will get underway quite soon in the castle behind us. How much do we

know? Will we ever know about the guest list, the food? Will we be

given those details or is that the kind of thing that will remain

private because it is such a special occasion?

I think because it is a special occasion these things will trickle

out and we will get to hear about it. It is a very special birthday

because she is 90 and the whole family will be there. She has had

the family around every Christmas but not everybody is able to make it

but because this is special and there is a lot of room, everybody

will turn out. I think she will be totally overwhelmed. I remember when

she celebrated with Chris Philip her golden wedding anniversary I was

invited to that and that was the first event at Windsor after the

fire, just before the castle was reopened to visitors. It was a

tremendous event and on that occasion, the family was there and

kings and queens from continental Europe. It was interesting because

you were free to walk down from Saint Georges and I told my friend

there was the Queen of Denmark, the Queen of Belgium and the Queen of

Spain for the top that was the sort of occasion it was and I expect it

will be like that. Will she get presents from the

family. I wonder what a grandchild gives the grandmother for the

birthday when the grandmother is the Queen?

It is difficult, isn't it? I would have thought the parents will have

got them making things. We do it with our children, we have done it

with our children and do it with our grandchildren. There is something

about that which is appreciated by the parents and grandparents though

I think that is an the cards. What do you give the woman who has

everything? It is possible. Catherine was a marvel at Christmas

when she gave the Queen a jar of chutney she made. I don't think she

will repeat it. What do you give the person who has everything?

Yes. The Beacon looks fantastic now. It looks very warm. We would quite

like to stand there. Let's head to... I think we can go to own

henge. Will is our correspondent at Stonehenge. Hello. What time are

events kicking off where you are this evening?

Stonehenge is one of the country's if not the world's most recognisable

monuments. Archaeologist say it was construct within 2000 or 3000 BC,

which makes it four and a half thousand years old. It has a huge

history and tonight they are hoping to add to that history a new, brief

chapter in that long history. They will like a beacon in honour of the

Queen's 90th birthday. One of scores that will be lit across the county

of Welcher and the UK, but this one is going to be something extra

special. There will be 150 brownies, guides and rainbows who are going to

sing happy birthday to the Queen once the Beacon has been lit.

Itt. I have been told that is the correct

wording they are able to sing this evening, alongside the beacon. I

have spoken to some of the brownies before their performance and they

are not nervous at all. They are really happy and excited to be part

of this special occasion. They haven't had long to practise, they

were only told a couple of weeks ago but the song is happy birthday which

they know, it is a matter of them being able to turn up and be able to

sing it together. The beacon here is being lit at about 7.45 and the

Prime Minister said the Queen during her reign has been a rock of

strength, so what more fitting a place, for a tribute to the Queen,

than Stonehenge. So they are going to light the beacon, first of all

they are going to hear a message from pram Prince Charles, then they

will light the beacon and the brownies are going to sing after

that. The beacon is located just to the right of Stonehenge, it is a

special gas beacon that has been brought in for the occasion, they

are not having one of the giant bonfire beacons but I have been told

it is quite something to be allowed to a beacon at all and a celebration

on this, which is a sacred place to some. The monument field of

Stonehenge. We expect that to begin at 7.45.

I was wondering about lighting beacons near Stonehenge. A massive

satellite delay. We got there eventually. Thank goodness for that.

We saw the images as well. Belfast City Hall. There is a lot happening

in Belfast, we will be back there sure. The Queen's former press

secretary is watching this with me, the scenes in Belfast, the Queen's

visit to Ireland, and the work she has done in that regard, is is one

of her, the crowning achievements, no pun intended, of recent years.

Tremendous achievement, when you think the last sovereign that

visited Ireland was 100 years prior to that, it was a tremendous

achievement all the Troubles that existed, given the assassination of

Lord mown batten, you know, she hoe mount put aen, she says things

happen and you have to rank nice things happen but you have to move

on, and this sort of, this visit, was a tremendous feather in her cap.

The return vets by the President of Ireland.

And I mention that because we know there are going to be a lot of nods

to unification and the peace process as part of that there this evening.

We will be back in Belfast later. If you are just joining us here on BBC

News, the time after 7.30 and we are focussing as you might expect this

evening, on the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations, and in within

the last half an hour, Her Majesty has lit the beacon, the initial

beacon in Windsor. And this was the scene just in the last half an hour.

Light the fuse. Slight delay. There it goes.

The bells have come in almost on cue, although it was a little while

ago. We were nervous watching this in the last half an hour ago,

because it took a very long time, to get to the rather resplendent state

it was in, these are the pictures from 20 minutes ago, no far away

from where we are. The love the way the Queen is looking, she has had

her hair done and has a headscarf on. A very sensible approach. Let us

head back, we can go see the scene again in Shetland. Our correspondent

John Johnston is there. John, I hope you can hear us, hello to the

Shetland isles and that is quite a bon fir raging, there we have been

watching pictures from where you are for some time. -- bonfire. A good

evening from Unst, the island above all else, we are closer to a Norway

than to the Scottish mainland. Now, the bonfire was one of the first to

be lit across the UK, it was lit about 7.10, and with me think

evening, There is a Viking feel to this festival we have Christopher

Rich. Tell us very much a North East tradition here in Shetland. Norse.

That is right. A bit of a mix I would say, but, yes, we are here to

light the bonfire really, and get cold. Gordon, you are chair of the

Unst community council. The Queen visited here in the 60s. She did.

She was here in 1963, I think she was presented with a Shetland pony

and some knitwear, and so we have connections with the Queen going

back a fair number of years now. And we have a little surprise, a little

sing song for the Queen this evening. Yes, we the Queen, we are

going to wish her happy birthday now, we have the squad to help join

in with the singing. OK folks, are we ready.

# Happy birthday to you # Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday Queen Elizabeth # Happy birthday to you. #

CHEERING. What celebrations for the far north of Scotland tonight, for

the Queen's 990th birthday. -- 90th birthday. Fantastic, thank

you very much. There are many, many more to go. Remember, when we saw

the Queen light the initial beacon, here in win, so in the last half an

hour, that is the first of about 1,000 beacons, across the UK, and in

various Commonwealth countries as well. A beacon that sends out a

message, that is a simple of celebration.

-- symbol. Hence that decision tonight to light the beacon in

honour of the Queen's 90th birthday. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

are now back here, at Windsor Castle, and in the next few minutes,

a private dinner will get under way. Just family and a few close friends,

we are told, that dinner hosted by the Prince of Wales. And that

getting under way very shortly. We here at BBC News keeping an eye on

all corners of the country, because there are many, many beacons to be

lit yet, not all at the same time, there is many more to come,

including the Tower of London, and all areas of the country, we know of

course that army cadets have taken a beacon to the four highest points of

the UK as well. So we will have much more from here, in Windsor, in the

coming hours. For now, for the next few minutes I will return you to

Rebecca, in the studio. Back to you. The American pop star,

Prince, has died at his His publicist said he'd been

suffering from ill health -- and had had to cancel

two recent concerts.