Red Arrows plays key role as Lincolnshire prepares to celebrate Queen's platinum jubilee
Beacons will be lit across the country including 2 at Lincoln Castle
Last updated 2nd Jun 2022
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations get underway today.
A slightly tweaked military birthday parade kicks off the the Jubilee this morning.
Her Majesty will observe the salute from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Prince Charles will take her place at the ceremony, and Prince Harry and Meghan will be there too.
One of the highlights of today's proceedings will be the flypast by Lincolnshire's legendary Red Arrows.
They go over Buckingham Palace later.
Ahead of the display we spoke to Flight Lieutenant David Simmonds who told us about the preparations.
"It's been months in the planning with multiple aircraft over the Palace."
"Hopefully if the weather's nice we'll be bringing up the rear with nine aircraft all smoking over the top with red, white and blue and it should should be a spectacular event for everyone."
"I'm really looking forward to it."
"Especially in a big Jubilee year like this year being able to fly over the Place and the Queen is just the icing on the cake".
"It's the highlight of our year."
"It's a real honour and a privilege to be able to not only represent the airforce and the country but to put red, white and blue down the Mall, to fly over the Queen, I don't think it gets any better than that."
Beacons
This evening beacons will be lit across the country starting with the Royal Family at the Palace.
Two will be lit at Lincoln Castle.
The Mayor of Lincoln Councillor Rosanne Kirk will be there with the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis in charge of igniting the display.
We spoke to him ahead of the event.
"It's part of our way of thanking the Queen for what she's done to serve our country ever since she made her speech."
"Today we can say thank you to her."