Today was the main celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, with Queen Elizabeth II celebrating 60 years on the throne of Britain. While the majority of the celebrations were in London, here in Edinburgh a beacon was to be lit on the roof of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. So we headed down to see what we could see.

Despite it being 10pm, with summer here it was still quite light, so we stopped to take some photos of the Scottish Parliament.

A concert in front of Buckingham Palace in London was being broadcast by the BBC tonight, and was being shown live on a TV in the Palace Mews courtyard, next to the café.

Around 10:15 we were allowed into the main courtyard of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, ready for the lighting of the beacon on the Palace’s roof.

The crowd waited in anticipation.

Then the beacon was lit! I’m not really sure what I was expecting, but possibly something bigger than what transpired.

After watching the flickering flames for a few minutes, we made our way back through to the Palace Mews to watch the rest of the concert on TV.

It seemed a bit odd taking photos of a TV program, and even stranger posting those photos here. But for those that didn’t see any of it, here you go.

When the national anthem was sung, and just as “Hip hip….” was shouted, a Border Collie next to us gave two barks with perfect timing!

The climax of the celebrations in London was a firework display over Buckingham Palace. Again, more photos of a TV screen.

With the concert in London over, the crowds in Edinburgh started to drift away, and we headed for home.