Beacons have lit up the skies across Northern Ireland to celebrate the platinum jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth.
They marked the close of the first day of festivities to celebrate 70 years since the Queen's reign began.
Beacons were lit at towns and cities across Northern Ireland including at Titanic Belfast and St Columb's Cathedral in Derry.
Sinn Féin's Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy took part in a service to mark the date at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.
The most westerly town, Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh, also hosted a service of thanksgiving at St Macartin's Cathedral.
The queen visited the cathedral in 2012 as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and crossed the road to the nearby Catholic St Michael's Church.
Former Stormont first minister Arlene Foster was among the guests at the service.
Following the service, a beacon was lit in the grounds of the cathedral, while 12 beacons were also lit on the walls of Enniskillen Castle which was illuminated purple by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to mark the occasion.
More than 100 pipers and musicians from the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association played Diu Regnare, which was specially composed to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
Two beams of light were projected into the night sky to symbolise the queen's historic visit in 2012.
Further beacons were lit nearby at Castle Island, Topped Mountain and the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
Earlier a 42-gun salute was fired at Hillsborough Castle.
Members of the 206 Ulster Battery of the Royal Artillery fired from three guns outside the castle as hundreds of people gathered in the grounds of the royal palace to watch the commemorative event.
Among guests were Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and former first minister Paul Givan.
The official four-day celebration of the Queen's 70 years on the throne includes street parties, exhibitions, church services and lunch events.
Speaking at Hillsborough Castle, Mr Lewis said the Jubilee provided a chance for all communities across the UK to come together.
"This is the start of four days of celebration of one of the most amazing women that we have seen in public service around the world," he said.
Today marks the start of a long bank holiday weekend in Northern Ireland which will also include a visit from the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
The Royal couple are expected to carry out two engagements in the region on Saturday.
On Sunday, big lunch events will be taking place across Northern Ireland, including on the Shankill Road and in Bangor, Co Down, which was made a city as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
Earlier, Ms Foster welcomed a Sinn Féin move to write to the Queen on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee.
The party's vice president Michelle O'Neill wrote to the Queen to praise her "significant" contribution to the peace process and to acknowledge her "dedicated public service to the British people" during her 70 years on the throne.
Ms O'Neill thanked the Queen for her "warmth and unfailing courtesy" on the occasions when the pair met and wrote of the "value and respect" she had for the monarch's contribution to reconciliation.
Former DUP leader Ms Foster praised Ms O'Neill's gesture.
"Obviously, I very much welcome it," she told BBC Radio Ulster.
Ms Foster, who served alongside Ms O'Neill at the head of the Stormont Executive, said the Platinum Jubilee celebrated three things - the Queen's public service and dedication; the institution of the monarchy; and the concept of Britishness.
"I think for republicans, like Michelle O'Neill, like Nicola Sturgeon, they have recognised in Her Majesty the Queen the first of those, the fact that she has given so much service to the country," she said.
"They're recognising that and I think that that is something that is to be welcomed."
