The city council's Discover Carlisle team has worked in partnership with partners across the Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland areas.

As part of the overall programme, they have arranged a Beacon lighting celebration outside Carlisle Castle at 9.45pm tonight (Thursday, June 2).

The timetable is as follows:

• 9.45pm: Lighting of English Heritage Beacon on wall walk (on the ramparts), followed by;
• 9.55pm: Song for the Commonwealth, Rocket Theatre Group.
• 10pm: Floodlighting of Castle in Purple, followed by;
• 10pm: Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Mike Mitchelson and Mayoress, Anne Mitchelson lighting beacons on the bridge in front of the Castle - accompanied by Carlisle Army Cadets.
• 10.03/10.05pm: Projection of Hadrian’s Wall Beacons film on to the Castle Keep.

'The Queen has lit up our lives for 70 years'

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, pageantmaster of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, said: “Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations, more than 2,022 Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories and within the Commonwealth countries on the first evening of the four-day Jubilee Weekend.

"The Beacons will enable local communities to join together and pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events.

“For the first time, town criers, pipers, buglers and choirs from the UK and the Commonwealth will come together to join in the celebrations in their own individual and special way.

"It is wonderful to see the range of support for beacon lighting, which will highlight both the diversity and the unity of the nation and the Commonwealth.

"The Queen has lit up our lives for 70 years through her dedicated service and commitment. We would like to light up the nation and the Commonwealth in her honour.”

Jane, Lady Gibson, chair of the Hadrian’s Wall WHS Partnership Board, added: “Communities along the length of Hadrian’s Wall are taking part in this unique celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee made even more significant to us as it falls in the same year as our Hadrian 1900 festival, commemorating Hadrian arriving in northern Britain to supervise the building of his Wall in AD122.”

Cllr Stephen Higgs, portfolio holder for culture, heritage and leisure, said:
“Working with partners, our Discover Carlisle team has ensured that Carlisle and the region will be illuminated as part of the national celebration. 

“Hadrian’s Wall will be centre stage as will Carlisle Castle. It’s set to be another great occasion.”

READ MORE: Where you can see Cumbria’s Platinum Jubilee beacons: See the list