World celebrates with Britain

The World has been celebrating the Golden Jubilee alongside Britain.

In America, in a rare tribute for a non-US event, New York's Empire State Building was lit up in royal purple and gold.

Buckingham Palace said the Queen was "delighted and honoured" at the tribute, which followed her insistence that the US national anthem be played at the Changing of the Guards days after the 11 September attacks.

A spokesman for the Empire State Building, said: "We are honoured to do this as a tribute to the Queens and the ongoing friendship between our two nations."

Britons in New York also paid their own tributes. Squeeze frontman Glenn Tilbrook played a free concert in the city - outside its most famous fish and chip shop, the British-owned A Salt And Battery. He played in front of a giant Union Flag draped over the shop - and wearing a Union Jack shirt and boots. Nicky Perry, who owns the shop with husband Shaun, said: "It was a great show with a great turn-out. We had our own little corner of Britain in New York."

In Kenya, where the then Princess Elizabeth discovered she had become Queen on the death of her father, a celebratory dinner was held and trees were planted in a special jubilee forest. Dancers then performed to traditional music and guests ate from a menu based on what the princess ate the day she knew she had become head of state.

In Cyprus, celebrations took on a British feel. The British High Commission in Nicosia combined the Queen's birthday with the jubilee and there is a party planned by British residents in September.

Germany ran extensive television coverage of all the celebrations going in Britain. It sent a large contingent of reporters to London to get quotes from cheering spectators and give a personal account of the celebrations.

Russia also made a point of commemorating the Golden Jubilee, with President Vladimir Putin sending the Queen a telegram which said: "For Russians, you are a worthy example of loyal duty to your people, protecting their values and traditions."