A giant Union Jack flag with an image of Her Majesty the Queen has been unveiled on Heathrow's runway today to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and mark the airport's role in six decades of regal globetrotting. Measuring 540 square metres, the flag, will give the 780,000 passengers expected to arrive for the celebrations a Great British welcome to the UK.
The artwork measures 30 metres in length - 10 metres taller than Buckingham Palace and three times the width of an A380's fuselage - and is the first time ever an image has been painted on the airfield.
The patriotic emblem was created using more than 400 litres of red, white and blue paint. It has been positioned adjacent to the Northern runway so that passengers will be able to spot it from their flights, with Her Majesty's profile overlooking the runway and terminals.
As the most travelled head of state in the world, having made 261 official overseas visits and 96 state visits to 116 countries, Heathrow has played host to some important moments in the Queen's 60-year reign. Her Majesty also opened the original London Airport buildings, which later became Terminal 2 in December 1955. In 1968 she returned to open Terminal 1 and again in 2008 to open Terminal 5.
As the biggest gateway to the UK, the airport is anticipating a busy fortnight as international passengers make a bee-line to London to celebrate the Jubilee. More than 2.9 million people will pass through its doors in the next two weeks, and with 780,000 predicted to arrive between 30 May and 6 June, Heathrow is putting a number of celebratory Jubilee-themed initiatives in place to make their journey better.
Passengers will be treated to a royal welcome with red carpets laid in Arrivals halls in all terminals. Official Diamond Jubilee and Union Jack flags will be handed out and visitors will be invited to write messages of congratulations to the Queen in official books that will be sent to Buckingham Palace. In addition there will be live musical performances in the terminals by a variety of musicians including the Salvation Army band.
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow commercial director at Heathrow said: "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations mark the start of an important and historic summer for Heathrow. As the UK's hub Airport, we are delighted to welcome thousands of visitors to Heathrow to celebrate this momentous national occasion."
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