Yesterday – 200 years on – the country marked its gratitude to the Navy and its leader Lord Nelson who was fatally injured in the final confrontation.
The first of the UK torches was lit beside Nelson's warship HMS Victory in Portsmouth by Her Majesty the Queen. She later went on to dine in Nelson's cabin and made a live broadcast to the nation.
Second Sea Lord Sir James Burnell-Nugent laid wreaths aboard the Victory and below deck - reputed to be the exact spot where Nelson died after being shot by the French during the battle.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West laid a wreath at Nelson's tomb in St Paul's, and crew members of HMS Chatham were due to lay another at Cape Trafalgar in southern Spain.
As well as a host of such formal activities, there will be thousands of small-scale events over the weekend, ranging from celebratory breakfasts, to parades, concerts and fireworks spectaculars.
Events will end later that day with a march to London's Trafalgar Square before church bells peal throughout the UK to commemorate those who died in maritime conflict.
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