60 years since Everest climb

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' Richard Pallot reports on celebrations to mark the climbers' achievement.

Watch: An archive report on the climber's Everest conquest

Watch: Daredevil completes the world's highest ever base jump from Everest

Celebrations have been held in Kathmandu as part of a series of events to mark the 60th anniversary of the conquest of the world's highest mountain peak in Nepal.

Mount Everest was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on May 29, in 1953.

Kancha Sherpa, the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition, also paid his respects to the pioneering climbers.

Watch an archive report Mount Everest's first conquest

An archive report of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay becoming the first two climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953.

As they returned from the summit they were given a hero's welcome in Nepal.

Footage courtesy of Reuters

Today marks 60 years to the day since mountaineers first reached the summit of Everest.

Climber Kenton Cool has reached the mountain's summit every year since 2004, a total of 11 times.

Speaking to Daybreak he said the attraction around Everest is the fact that it is the "biggest mountain in the world", he added, "it's a beautiful mountain".

He said: "The aura around it is still as strong as it was in 1953 for Hillary and Norgay, and that's the pull of Mount Everest and that's why so many people flock to the slopes each year."

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will celebrate 60 years since the first ascent of Everest with famous climbers who have conquered the world's highest peak.

At an evening reception, the royal couple will join mountaineers in remembering the historic feat of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who first climbed the mountain.

The mountaineers reached the 29,035ft summit at 11.30am local time on May 29, but it was not until June 2 that the news reached the rest of the world.

The event is being staged by the Mount Everest Foundation, of which the Duke is patron, and the Himalayan Trust UK.

Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing Norgay, the sons of the first climbers to reach the summit of Everest, will be joined by celebrated mountaineers at the signing of a new book on the first expedition.

Sir Chris Bonington, Stephen Venables and Doug Scott have all contributed to the newly-released The Conquest Of Everest - Original Photographs From The Legendary First Ascent.

The book features a previously-unpublished collection of photographs from the historic climb made by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

Former and current mountaineers will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic ascent of Mount Everest.

Mountaineers will gather 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.

Read: Re-live record-breaking Everest base jump with daredevil's helmet camera

Sixty years ago today Sir Edmund and Tenzing Norgay became the first men to reach the 29,028ft (8,848 metres) summit on May 29 1953.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will attend a reception to mark the anniversary this evening at the Royal Geographical Society where they will watch footage from the time, view an exhibition and meet families and guests.

Read: Soldiers prepare to tackle highest rugby match on Earth