The Brits are celebrating the bicentennial of their great naval victory at Trafalgar in grand fashion.
A thousand beacons lit the skies last night as Britain remembered its fleet at Trafalgar and celebrated its greatest naval victory.
The Queen lit the first beacon on the dockside in Portsmouth in front of Lord Nelson’s flagship, Victory.
Flames shot 30ft into the air and were the signal to light beacons in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and at Nelson’s birthplace at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk.
Hundreds more were lit across the country, mirroring the beacons of 1805. Had Nelson lost the battle, they would have stood ready to give warning of an invasion by Napoleon’s armies.
But yesterday they marked the beginning of a weekend of celebrations, taking in hundreds of parties and services.
Robert at The Llama Butchers has much more on the battle, including links to others blogging on the matter. Meanwhile, his fellow Butcher Steve chips in with an alternative look at Lord Nelson.