National charities support Platinum Jubilee Beacons with 100 days to go to the start of the Platinum Jubilee Weekend

General News

A coalition of major charities and organisations have expressed their support for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and announced plans to light community beacons in her honour. 

With exactly 100 days to go until the start of the Platinum Jubilee Weekend and the Beacons event on Thursday 2nd June, national and regional charities – including Girlguiding, the Scouts, Walking with the Wounded, and the National Trust – have spoken about their plans for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons. These include:

• Children and young people in Girlguiding and Scouts troops lighting at least 70 beacons (one for each year of The Queen’s reign)
• Former servicemen and women lighting beacons on the highest peaks of each of the four nations of the UK as part of Walking with the Wounded’s celebrations.
• Opportunities to attend beacon-lighting events at historic National Trust properties across the country.

The Beacons will enable local communities and charities to join together in tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of Platinum Jubilee events, giving thanks for the support she has extended to them over the course of her reign. 

Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, over 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth on the first evening of the four-day Jubilee Weekend. There will also be a Principal Beacon lit at Buckingham Palace, and beacons lit in the capital cities of all 54 Commonwealth countries.

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said:  

“As Patron of over 600 charities, The Queen’s seventy-year reign has been defined by the monarch’s generous and humanitarian spirit. Just as she has supported so many charities, it’s wonderful to see the charities supporting Her Majesty. By lighting beacons, we will be involving charities, community groups and people all over the country. The Queen has been a light to the country and the participation of so many charities in the beacons project will be a fitting tribute to her.”

The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth

“Throughout Her Majesty’s life and reign, her devotion to the Commonwealth has been absolute. The modern, thriving Commonwealth of 2022 is, in many ways, a reflection of the strength we have all been able to draw from her. […] In this year of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Kigali, I am proud that, in every part of our Commonwealth, beacons will be lit to celebrate Her Majesty’s dedication and service – as the centrepiece of a whole year of events, initiatives and tributes.”

Mark Tennant, Chairman, Scottish Land & Estates:

“We are delighted that SLE is an official partner of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons as we celebrate another unique milestone in our history. The beacons will enable local communities, individuals and organisations to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen, as part of the official Platinum Jubilee Weekend of celebrations. We have encouraged many of our members who own estates across rural Scotland to take part in the celebrations by lighting a beacon, enabling people in rural communities, in some of the most remote parts of Scotland, to be a part of the celebrations too.”

Angela Salt OBE, Chief Executive, Girlguiding, said:

“Her Majesty The Queen has a long-standing personal history with Girlguiding and we are very excited to be involved in the upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Queen first joined Girlguiding as a Guide in 1937, at 11 years old alongside her sister, Princess Margaret and in 1952, the same year she succeeded to the throne became our patron. On 2nd June Girlguiding members across the UK and beyond, will come together to celebrate this special occasion lighting 70 Beacons to mark each year The Queen has been on the throne.”

Chris James, Head of Brand and Ambassadors, Scouts, said: 

“Our Scouts are incredibly proud to be taking part in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon lighting on 2nd June 2022. Right across the UK, our groups will be lighting at least 70 beacons, one for each of seven decades as our Monarch and Patron. HM The Queen is a shining light for young people, helping them gain skills for life. Her outstanding example of service, dedication and kindness have inspired generations.”

Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust, said:

“As part of the celebrations, the Trust is proud to take part in the lighting of historic beacons, from Mow Top with its views of the Staffordshire Moorlands, to Cornwall's Chapel Corn Brea, Britain's westernmost hill. They will continue a royal tradition, with beacons illuminating the landscape just as they did for Her Majesty's Golden and Diamond Jubilees.”

Fergus Williams, CEO, Walking With The Wounded:

“Walking With The Wounded (‘WWTW’) is honoured to support the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s unparalleled 70-years’ of service. As part of this, on 2nd June 2022, teams of WWTW staff, dedicated volunteers and beneficiaries will climb four of the highest peaks in the UK to light four beacons in tribute to Her Majesty The Queen who has dedicated her life to the Commonwealth and its people.”

The charity and community organisations who have voiced support for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons include:

• Commonwealth Secretariat
• Girlguiding
• Military Wives Choir
• National Coastwatch Institution (NCI)
• National Trust
• NFU Scotland
• Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• Scouts
• Scottish Land & Estates (SLE)
• Walking With The Wounded (WWTW)

As well as support from charities, senior faith leaders in Britain recently voiced strong support for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons and urged their communities to take part. These include the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.