Royal beacons light up Hartlepool to mark the Queen's 90th birthday

Hartlepool’s two coastal beacons lit up the evening sky as part of a 1,000-strong beacon salute to mark Her Majesty’s birthday.

The Queen lit the first and Principal Beacon at Windsor Castle, which was followed by the lighting of a number of beacons along the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park and then over 1,000 beacons throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK overseas territories and Commonwealth countries.

People gathered around the Town Moor beacon on the Headland and at the beacon on the seafront at Seaton Carew in Hartlepool earlier this evening.

The town’s Ceremonial Mayor, Councillor Mary Fleet, lit the Town Moor beacon and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Kevin Cranney, lit the beacon at Seaton Carew.

The Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool Councillor Mary Fleet said: “We are delighted to take part in this 1,000-strong beacon tribute to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday. These beacons, lighting up the evening sky the length and breadth of the country, are a very fitting, traditional and impressive tribute to our much-loved Queen.”

The Deputy Mayor Councillor Kevin Cranney said: “The last time the two Hartlepool beacons were lit was during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 and it’s great to see them in use again to mark this further milestone in The Queen’s life. Her Majesty’s record of service to the country is second to none and we wish her a very happy birthday.”

The celebration also saw two town singers performing at the events.

Olivia Crawford, 14, and Courtney Hadwin, 11, sing the National Anthem during the celebrations.

Shotton Hall Academy pupil Courtney performed at the Headland, while Olivia, who attends Manor Academy, entertained audiences at Seaton Carew. Both girls attend Red Dreams, in Whitby Street South, a charity which helps young people realise their performing dreams.

Hartlepool bellringers also celebrated the milestone as bells rung out at St Oswald’s Church, All Saints Stranton and St Aidan’s Church.

Nationally gun salutes and bells rang out as celebrations got into full swing across the nation.

Military units fired 103 rounds in two traditional salutes as thousands of people gathered in central London to witness the spectacle.

First, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, wearing full dress uniform, rode their horses and gun carriages past Buckingham Palace to Hyde Park to stage a 41-gun Royal Salute at midday.

The Band of the Royal Artillery played as the 71 groomed horses pulled the six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns into position, before firing blank artillery rounds at precise 10-second intervals.

The Honourable Artillery Company then drove through the city in their liveried Pinzgauer vehicles to the Tower of London, firing a 62-gun salute across the Thames.

The bells of Westminster Abbey, where the Queen was married and crowned, also sounded at 1pm.

The Houses of Parliament, where MPs have paid tribute to the monarch, were illuminated red, white and blue for the special royal anniversary through the night until dawn today.

Members of the Army Cadet Force will be taking beacons to the top of the four highest peaks in the United Kingdom - Ben Nevis in Scotland, Mount Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in England, and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland.