Britain has a long history of using beacon lighting to celebrate its historic moments. In 1897 beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, and they will be lit again in 2012, when the current Queen Elizabeth II becomes the second Monarch in British history to celebrate 60 years on the throne. On the evening of June 4, 2012 a network of over 4,000 Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the globe and many will be placed high atop historic landmarks, royal castles, and famous mountain peaks. The final beacon in the chain will be triggered when The Queen places a huge diamond-shaped crystal into a specially designed pod in front of Buckingham Palace during a concert given in her honour. Will there be a new Guinness Book World Record for ’the longest chain of beacons ever’?
