The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lit in Islamabad
Staff Writer
Islamabad: The UK and Pakistan have come together to light a beacon to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her reign.
The event was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad this week, to coincide with beacon lighting ceremonies in every capital city across the Commonwealth.
The Acting British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Richard Crowder, and Pakistan’s Additional Secretary (Europe) Dr Israr Hussain simultaneously started the torch beacon as a symbol of friendship and closeness.
This year marks not only Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – a reign of 70 years – but also marks separately 75 years of UK-Pakistan relations.
Acting British High Commissioner Richard Crowder said: “Lighting this beacon represents 70 years of the reign of Her Majesty The Queen, and also the enduring importance today of the Commonwealth”.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal countries. It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 32 of the members are small states, including many island nations. Commonwealth member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace.
There is a long tradition in the UK of celebrating Royal Jubilees, weddings and Coronations with the lighting of beacons – on top of mountains, church and cathedral towers, castle battlements, on town and village greens, country estates, parks and farms, along beaches and on cliff tops. In 1897, beacons were lit to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. In 1977, 2002 and 2012, beacons commemorated the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of The Queen, and in 2016 Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.
On 2nd June 2022, the UK celebrated the milestone of Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th year as the Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth – her Platinum Jubilee. It is a feat no previous monarch has achieved.
More than 2,022 beacons were lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, and one in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries in recognition of The Queen’s long service.
