60 years since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached summit of Everest

The first conquerors of Everest, Edmund Hillary (left) and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (right), with expedition leader Colonel John Hunt (centre) Credit: PA Wire

Sixty years ago, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first men in history to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Since then more than 3,000 climbers have gazed at the world from a height of 8,848 metres.

ITV News reporter Paul Davies on the landmark:

Former and current mountaineers celebrated the anniversary today, gathering in London to join the sons of the first men to reach the summit at the signing of a newly-released book on the expedition.

The mountaineers had made their famous ascent days before the news broke.

They reached the summit of the world's highest mountain at 11.30am local time on 29th May, but it was four days before the rest of the world knew.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a reception to celebrate the landmark at the Royal Geographical Society where they watched footage from the time as a part of an exhibition.

The couple were welcomed by Dr Rita Gardner, RGS director, Colonel Henry Day, chairman of the Mount Everest Foundation and Rebecca Stephens, chairman of the Himalayan Trust UK.

Ms Stephens, the first British woman to climb the 29,028ft mountain, said:

The royal couple met a series of eminent climbers such as Sir Chris Bonington, 78, who reached Everest's summit in 1985; Stephen Venables, 59, the first Britain to climb Everest without bottled oxygen in 1988; and Jamling Tenzing Norgay and Peter Hillary - the sons of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay whose achievement was being celebrated.

There were also celebrations in Nepal.

See more: 60th anniversary of Everest ascent celebrated in Nepal