Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant cheered by crowds - BBC News BBC News Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant cheered by crowds 3 June 2012 Close share panel Media captionWatch key moments from the Thames river pageant More than one million rain-soaked people have watched the Queen's 1,000-boat Diamond Jubilee pageant weave its way along the Thames, organisers say. The Queen's barge travelled among the flotilla of tugs, steamers, pleasure cruisers, dragon boats and kayaks. The London event was the highlight of the Jubilee weekend, but a fly-past was cancelled because of the weather. Some 10,000 people joined a Greenwich street party, one of many in the UK marking 60 years of the Queen's reign. The pageant - believed to be the Thames's most spectacular in 350 years - started at Albert Bridge with the ringing of Jubilee bells at 14:40 BST and ended as the last vessel completed the seven-mile route to Tower Bridge just after 18:00 BST.

The Queen, dressed in a white hat and a silver and white coat designed by Angela Kelly, travelled on the Spirit of Chartwell, which was decorated with 10,000 flowers from the royal estates. She was accompanied by her family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. At the scene - Tower Bridge By Philippa ThomasBBC News The biggest river pageant the modern Thames has ever seen ended with a brief flurry of fireworks, a stalwart tooting of horns and a final round of cheers from the river bank. Here on the south side of Tower Bridge, hundreds of spectators stuck it out to the end. They were drenched to the skin, but managed a chorus of Land of Hope and Glory - and a jolly few even swayed along as they waved their sodden Union flags. They'd waited for hours in good cheer through cold, mist and showers until they had had their glimpse of the Queen. She was, in truth, just a tiny figure on the Royal Barge, but the point at which the monarch passed by - especially with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, beside her - was a moment many were determined to be able to say they'd witnessed.

A boat carrying eight specially-cast Jubilee bells led the water-borne procession, with churches along the river bank returning the peal as it passed. There were 10 musical barges, carrying choirs and orchestras. The Spirit of Chartwell left Cadogan Pier once the rowing boats in the flotilla had safely passed. Leading the rowing boats was the million-pound row barge Gloriana, with Olympic gold medallists Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave among its 18 rowers. A collection of small ships used to rescue stranded troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 also took part, led by the Motor Torpedo boat 102, the flagship of the officer who co-ordinated the evacuation. Some 20,000 people were thought to have been in the boats of the flotilla, which travelled at 4 knots (4.6 mph), with the Thames barrier closed to slow the river's flow. A huge cheer went up whenever the royal barge came into the crowds' sights. Hungarian Laura Konig, 34, who lives in the London borough of Sutton, said: "I really enjoy the music.

When the boats with bands come by it's brilliant and the atmosphere is so cool. The weather could be better but apart from that it's an amazing day." The Queen smiled at the sight of a life-size puppet horse - from the play War Horse - which was running along the rooftop of the National Theatre. The Queen pointed out the performance to Camilla. Dozens of spectators at Tower Bridge were disappointed as security staff blocked off pathways due to fears of overcrowding, more than an hour before the flotilla was due to arrive. Media captionSurprise royal guests join Diamond Jubilee street party Tower Bridge raised as the royal barge approached, with heavy rain returning to the London skies as it moored to allow the Queen to watch the rest of the flotilla pass. The final music barge carrying members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir stopped next to the royal barge for a short performance. As it played a nautical tune, the Queen bobbed slightly, while the Duchess of Cornwall moved in time to the music.

The Guinness World Records said the pageant had set a new world record for the largest parade of boats, surpassing the previous record of 327 in Bremerhaven, Germany, last year. BBC Big Screens transmitted live coverage of the pageant in 22 locations around the UK including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Middlesbrough. Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the 86-year-old Queen during an interview on BBC One's Andrew Marr programme earlier, saying: "Her insight and her sharpness is extraordinary and I don't see any sign of her working less hard." His own Jubilee party in Downing Street was moved indoors because of the weather. In Piccadilly, central London, before the pageant, the BBC's Sangita Myska said there had been a "huge crush" as well-wishers flocked to greet a surprise visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall to a street party where 500 tables had been set up. In other news: Jubilee weekend trains into the capital were affected by overcrowding .

Organisers say six million people took part in tens of thousands of Big Jubilee Lunches across the UK in an initiative encouraging people to share food with neighbours and friends in street parties and picnics Morecambe, Lancashire, was aiming for the longest street party by beating the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) event held in Combe Martin, Devon, for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 Almost 9,500 road closure applications have been made across England and Wales, with Hertfordshire topping the street party list with 451 event licences A third of all of Scotland's street party applications have been made in Edinburgh, where 10 official events were scheduled Hundreds of street parties took place in Wales but the weather forced some to be postponed. The beach party at Rhosneigr, close to the Anglesey home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was rained off, but celebrations moved indoors Jubilee events are being held across the Commonwealth. In the Arctic, explorers from Devon are holding a party. In New York, 10 UK-registered yachts will fly union jack spinnaker sails in a salute.

In Afghanistan, troops at Camp Bastion held parties complete with bunting The £10m cost of the event has been met by private donations but the security costs will be paid for by the taxpayer. The London Ambulance Service said it and St John Ambulance treated 369 patients, 64 of whom were taken to hospital. Some 46 people from the flotilla have been treated, with six taken to hospital. Anti-monarchy group Republic says more than 1,000 protesters joined its demonstration against what it calls an unelected, unaccountable monarch. Its chief executive, Graham Smith, said most people had not been celebrating the Jubilee. He added: "Gay Pride in London gets many more people than were down here today, so does the Notting Hill Carnival, so you know it's not that big a deal." On Monday, a concert will be held in front of Buckingham Palace, ending with a firework display and more than 4,000 beacons are due to be lit in the UK and around the world.

See all the latest Diamond Jubilee news and features at bbc.co.uk/diamondjubilee BBC News - Diamond Jubilee: Explore the Pageant Print Diamond Jubilee: Explore the Pageant The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant promises to be the most spectacular nautical event seen in London for 350 years. On 3 June, more than 1,000 boats will celebrate the Queen's 60-year reign and Britain's maritime history by sailing down the River Thames. Use the navigation bar or drag your cursor around the image to see photos, video and a route map. little ships The flotilla of more than 1,000 boats grouped in sections sets off from Battersea Bridge at high water on 3 June. Drag the image or navigation bar and click on labels to get a sneak preview of some of the hundreds of vessels taking part in the biggest event of the Diamond Jubilee year. Gloriana Royal Jubilee Bells Eight specially cast Royal Jubilee bells will be housed in a floating bell tower on a belfry barge. The largest of the eight bells is called Elizabeth.

It was donated by the Worshipful Company of Vintners, weighs half a ton and was cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in east London. The other bells will each be named after senior members of the Royal Family - Philip, Charles, Anne, Andrew, Edward, William and Henry. Eight change ringers, members of the Ancient Society of College Youths, will form the Royal Jubilee Bellringers. They will ring a quarter peal, with churches along the route and around the country providing an answering peal. After the Pageant, the Royal Jubilee Bells will be housed at the Church of St James Garlickhythe in the City of London. Water music Music is a key feature of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Musicians will perform specially commissioned pieces on 10 music herald barges separating each section of boats taking part. Aboard the final music herald barge will be the London Philharmonic Orchestra, performing pieces linked to buildings on the banks of the river, such as theme tunes to Bond movies as they pass the MI6 headquarters and The Dambusters theme tune near the RAF memorial.

The Ancient Academy of Music will play Handel's Water Music on 18th century instruments - amplified by 21st century technology for the millions watching the spectacle. Here, you can listen to Alla Hornpipe movement from Water Music Suite No 2 to get you in the mood for the big day. The Matthew of Bristol This replica of a Tudor merchant sailing ship represents vessels that plied the Thames during Henry VII's reign. The ship will be moored at Butler's Wharf on the Avenue of Sail with paying guests and other dignitaries on board enjoying the pageant festivities. In 1497, Italian-born explorer John Cabot left Bristol on this little boat hoping to find a new route to Asia. Three thousand miles later he landed at what he called New-Found-Land in what we now know as North America. The replica Matthew made the same journey in 1997. The Matthew is based in Bristol Harbour but frequently unfurls her sails for trips round the harbour as well as film projects. Avenue of Sail Tall ships unable to pass under London's bridges will be moored on both sides of the River Thames forming an Avenue of Sail, stretching from London Bridge to Cherry Garden Pier in Wapping.

As well as 56 sailing ships, you will see warships, Thames sailing barges, cocklers, oyster smackers, eel barges, herring drifters, fishing trawlers and tugs moored along the river. They include Amazon, a 127-year-old yacht present at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Suhaili, pictured here in 1969 when yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston became the first person to sail her solo non-stop around the world. More than 40 years on, he will be back on board the Suhaili for Sunday's pageant. Tenacious:'Everyone is equal' Tenacious is a tall ship built in 2000 by the Jubilee Sailing Trust charity and designed to be sailed by both able-bodied and disabled crew members. She will join the pageant just days after completing a 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic. Able-bodied and physically disabled crew members are paired off in in a "buddy" system and there are cabins designed for wheelchair users on board.

People who are visually impaired, amputees and those with other forms of physical disability can benefit from a sailing experience as well. "Someone who has had a disability for a long time may have been wrapped up by society in cotton wool and told, "You can't do this and you can't do that." But here that's all gone - everyone is equal," said ship's medical purser Carol Redgrave. Shropshire Lad: 'A path to recovery' The Shropshire Lad narrowboat is crewed by 12 military personnel, eight of whom were wounded in Afghanistan, Iraq and other theatres of war. They are travelling from North Shropshire to London along rivers and canals over a period of three weeks, canoeing, cycling and crewing the boat through more than 200 locks. A second narrowboat, the Shropshire Lass, will follow on, crewed by members of the Lyneal Trust which proves canal boat experiences for disabled people. "The ultimate prize is the Pageant," said Lt Col Guy Chambers, who is organising the trip. "We see this as a significant challenge and opportunity for our wounded and injured soldiers and a path to their recovery." Passenger boats: all aboard!

One of the 67 passenger boats you might see on the day of the pageant is the Clifton Castle, pictured. It took part in the D-Day landings and is joined by four other sightseeing vessels belonging to Thames River Boats. Also, look out for the amphibious DKUW from Duck Tours. Half boat, half truck, it was designed in the USA during World War II to unload cargo onto beaches where docks had been destroyed. In contrast, Thames Clippers will be sending out four sleek, super modern boats from its fleet - Cyclone, Aurora, Monsoon and Tornado. Narrowboats and barges: a proud history Sixty canal boats, once the only way to transport goods around the UK, will ply their way down the Thames on 3 June as part of the grand flotilla. In this video clip, the skipper of President, David Powell, talks about the history of one of the world's only surviving steam-powered narrowboats. Representing Staffordshire in the Diamond Jubilee Pageant, the narrowboat will have made a 336-mile (540km) journey from a West Midlands museum to London for the Pageant. The boat is owned by the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

A handful of restored Thames sail barges, once used to transfer cargo from large ships to shore, will be moored on the Avenue of Sail for the public to admire. Motorboats and pleasure craft Sixty motorboats from yacht clubs around the country have been chosen to join the River Thames pageant. They include: Shaken Not Stirred, aptly named for its part in the opening sequence of Bond film The World Is Not Enough; Siku Kuu, from Kenya with the Kenya High Commissioner on board; Wetwheels, skippered by a wheelchair user and with children from Naomi House Hospice aboard. Pictured here is Dandy Regent of the Association of Thames Yacht Clubs. The Solar 32 motor cruiser will be representing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. The Alaska: royal connection Built in 1883, the Alaska is the oldest working vessel on the Thames. In 2009 the Alaska became a Royal Barge for the day when the Queen went aboard to watch a swan-upping ceremony. "The vessel will be decked out from stem to stern with red, white and blue bunting ...

with all brasswork polished and the skipper and engineer sporting their Victorian style boatmen's uniforms," owner and skipper Peter Green of Thames Steamers told the BBC. "Let's hope the weather behaves itself!" Fireboats: the Massey Shaw and more London Fire Brigade's most famous fireboat will be joining the flotilla on the day of the pageant. Now retired, the Massey Shaw, rescued about 500 soldiers from the shallow waters off Dunkirk and ferried them to larger ships off shore. The flag from the boat was used to bandage an injured soldier's arm. Here the Massey Shaw is pictured sailing up the River Thames in June 1941, being greeted after its heroic Dunkirk rescue. On June 3, the pageant will also see one of London Fire Brigade's two current fireboats the Fire Flash taking part, as well as the 1970s restored Fire Hawk, Gloucestershire Marine Rescue 1 and Merseyside Marine Rescue 1. Forces vessels: war heroes More than 140 historic boats will cruise down the Thames in honour of the Queen.

Vessels that played an important part in World War II will be represented by Air Sea Rescue, Air Force Rescue, the British Army, and the Royal Navy. RAF high-speed launches like the HSL-102, pictured, was one of 22 rescue boats based around the coast of Britain that saved the lives of more than 13,000 airmen from the seas. In 1941 the HSL-102 rescued 38 aircrew from the North Sea - including the crews of two German bombers. She was restored in 1993, re-launched by the Queen Mother in 1996 and has acted as a royal barge for the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent. Tugs, steamers and lifeboats Various historic tug boats, steamers and lifeboats will be seen on the Thames honouring the Queen. RNLI lifeboats have rescued more than 177,000 people since the Queen came to the throne 60 years ago.

Taking part on June 3 is Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboat Station's new £2.7m Tamar lifeboat, named RNLI Diamond Jubilee in honour of the Queen who is an RNLI patron. The Duke and Duchess of Kent will be on board. Wheldale will be among the tugs in the flotilla. Built in 1959, it transported coal from Yorkshire mines via the Aire and Calder Navigation canal to Goole docks until 1986. It was bought by The Yorkshire Waterways Museum in 1997 and restored. The oldest working passenger vessel the steamer Alaska is in this category, along with Kariat, a launch representing the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight. Dunkirk Little Ships Forty-five Dunkirk Little Ships will be positioned just behind the Royal Section. These ships are just a few of the original 700 private vessels that took part in the evacuation of 385,000 British, French and Belgian troops from Dunkirk in 1940, as part of Operation Dynamo. Five more Little Ships will be moored on the Avenue of Sail.

Among them will be MTB102, which carried Churchill and Eisenhower to inspect the D-Day fleet on 3 June 1944, and the New Britannic which rescued the largest number of men - 3,000. "Members are very much looking forward to taking part in this spectacular celebration of her reign and the maritime history of Great Britain and the Commonwealth," said Commodore Richard Basey of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. Royal escort boats, heralds and fanfares Several boats will accompany the Royal Barge, The Spirit of Chartwell, including support vessels of the former Royal Yacht Britannia such as the Royal Yacht Britannia royal barge (pictured). They will be crewed by the Queen's former Royal yachtsmen, known as Yotties, dressed in ceremonial uniform. Trinity 500s boats rowed by the Marine Society and Sea Cadets will carry the 54 Commonwealth flags. Trinity House No 1 Boat will sail ahead of the Royal Barge, reflecting its traditional role of preceding the reigning monarch when at sea in British waters. On board will be Princess Anne and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.

As the Queen's barge approaches each bridge, a fanfare performed by members of the Band of her Majesty's Royal Marines will herald Her Majesty's arrival. The Pageant route Winston Churchill's Havengore Havengore will sail with the Royal squadron. On board will be the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and London mayor Boris Johnson. The craft is most famous for bearing the coffin of former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill up the Thames from Tower Pier to Festival Pier at his state funeral in 1965. His last journey was witnessed by hundreds of thousands of Londoners along the river bank and on bridges, as well as 350 million TV viewers around the world. BBC commentator Richard Dimbleby ended his commentary with the words: "And so Havengore sails into history - not even the Golden Hinde has borne so great a man." The Royal Barge: The Spirit of Chartwell The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will travel on a gilded barge - The Spirit of Chartwell - specially decorated with flowers from the royal gardens and furnished in 17th century style.

They will be joined by Prince William and Catherine and Prince Harry. The royal couple will be seated on ornate chairs under a gold canopy as they cruise down the Thames. The sides of the craft will be decorated with red drapes, while the Queen's cipher and a crown will be displayed on the bow. The floral displays will feature a red, gold and purple colour scheme. In this clip, designer Joseph Bennett describes the highly skilled work carried out at the City and Guilds of London Art School on the 64-metre-long barge which was donated for the occasion by owner Philip Morrell. Kayaks and dragon boats: paddle power There will be 80 sea kayaks taking part representing canoe clubs from all over the country. The flotilla will include about 15 specially decorated dragon boats. These kind of boats originated in China some 2,500 years ago. Three of these will be crewed by breast cancer charities Paddlers for Life, Lake Windermere and Worcester Busters (pictured). In recent years, the upper body movements used to paddle dragon boats have been found to benefit those recovering from breast cancer surgery, and the clubs that run them provide a valued support network for survivors and their families.

Traditional and modern rowed boats More than 188 rowing boats will populate the River Thames in honour of the Queen. Cutters, Cornish pilot and racing gigs, skiffs, longboats, gondolas, lifeboats, kayaks, dragon boats and shallops - elegant pleasure barges used for transporting dignitaries in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Royal Shallop Jubilant (pictured) is a faithful replica of an 18th century barge presented to the Queen for her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Dim Riv, a half size replica of a Viking Longboat, will travel down to the Thames from the Shetland Islands. All rowed boats will "toss oars" in salute to The Queen as they pass her. Gloriana: Royal rowbarge At nearly 90 feet long, the royal rowbarge Gloriana is the largest rowed vessel in the UK. It has been specially built for the occasion and will lead the whole flotilla of more than 1,000 vessels. The gilded barge is made from wood from sweet chestnut trees grown on Prince Charles' own private estate.

Although it is called the royal rowbarge, the Queen will not be on board. Olympic gold-medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent will be among the 18 oarsmen aboard. Lord Sterling who is behind the project said he was inspired by Canaletto's paintings of the Venetian barges of the 18th Century. Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant 2012: What Queen's flotilla will look like | Daily Mail Online It will be, we are confidently promised, the greatest show the Thames has ever seen and perhaps even outshine the Olympics. The Diamond Jubilee river pageant will feature 1,000 boats, 20,000 eager participants and millions of cheering spectators. Details of the spectacular event on June 3 were released yesterday, prompting London Mayor Boris Johnson to predict a ‘glorious’ spectacle which would ‘perhaps be more exciting than the Olympics themselves’. Pageant Master Adrian Evans spoke of ‘a once-in-a-lifetime event, one that will reclaim the Thames as a royal route’.

Patriotic plans He added: ‘I’m hoping it will be majestic, joyous, uplifting and patriotic – a fitting celebration for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.’ The procession from Wandsworth to Tower Bridge will be divided into ten sections interspersed with ‘music herald’ barges. Each vessel will travel at approximately four knots – a fast walking speed – meaning the fleet will complete the seven-mile route in around 90 minutes. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share At its head will be a remarkable floating tower featuring eight specially-cast bells, each named after a senior member of the Royal Family. Their peals will be answered by chimes from riverbank churches along the route. The first boat will be Gloriana, the hand-built 88ft Royal Rowbarge, followed by a fleet of paddled vessels including watermen’s cutters, skiffs, American whaleboats and dragon boats. Thames Jubilee pageant The second section includes craft carrying the flags of Commonwealth nations, realms and territories. Next will be the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in their magnificent gilded royal barge. This is being adapted from an existing Thames cruiser, the Spirit of Chartwell, and will be garlanded with flowers from the royal estates.

Prince Charles, whose idea it was to hold a river-borne celebration in the first place, is to take a significant role as patron of the pageant. At the end of the route there will also be a spectacular mile-long ‘Avenue of Sail’ for the Queen to inspect, consisting of boats too big to go under Tower Bridge. Organising the event has been a ‘logistical nightmare’ but its organisers are confident it will be a success, watched by millions worldwide. The £10million cost is being funded entirely by sponsorship – although advertising is strictly forbidden – and private donations. The organising committee is attempting to persuade the Government to waive VAT on the event, which would add another £2million to the bill. Apparently the Queen was particularly insistent that no public money should be used, nor does she want any full-scale public appeal for funds. Gloriana, a treasure to last 100 years Britannia she is not. Nor does she look anything like our spectacular national flagship which the Daily Mail is proposing for the United Kingdom. But Gloriana will be the boat which will lead the Queen and her entourage through London in June.

With less than a month until she marks 60 years on the throne, the Queen has just granted official royal status to the first floating object since the last Royal Yacht was pensioned off to become an Edinburgh tourist attraction. While she is not equipped for touring the Commonwealth – or even for venturing much beyond the Thames Estuary – Gloriana’s credentials are impeccable. For the 18-oared craft is now, officially, the Queen’s Royal Rowbarge. Spectacular: An artist's impression reveals the flotilla reflecting Britain's maritime heritage that has been assembled to celebrate the Queen's 60-year reign Original plans saw the Queen travel down the Thames upon Gloriana, the Royal Rowbarge, but security and health and safety issues proved too complex.

Instead, the Queen, Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family will take part in the pageant aboard a modern Thames cruiser called Spirit of Chartwell, which is being converted into a barge for the day Left, an artist's impression of Spirit of the Royal Cruiser Chartwell, which will be converted into a barge for the day to carry the Queen and Prince Philip down the Thames on June 3; right, The De Walvisch Culture Ship will be part of the stunning display The 88ft cross between a giant gondola and a Viking longboat is a precise recreation of the oar-powered limousines which ferried royalty and the very rich around London from medieval times. Except that their boats did not boast flushing loos, hot-and-cold running water, cunningly-disguised liferafts and two standby electric engines. I have been allowed inside the secret workshop on a West London industrial estate where the ten-ton Gloriana is taking shape. With a capacity of more than 50 passengers and crew, a royal rowbarge must have been a dazzling sight – as we can see from the works of the 18th-century artist Canaletto.

Now, we will see it all over again in June as Gloriana leads a thousand boats for seven miles through London. The crew will consist of some of the most ancient and exotic appendages to the Royal Household. The Queen’s Bargemaster will be at the helm while 18 of her Royal Watermen – all of them professional Thames boatmen – will do the heaving. The boat has been designed to carry members of the Royal Family, VIPs and charities on the Thames – and other inland waters – for the next 100 years. Come the day of the pageant, though, the Queen will not be on board herself. Because of the need to give her optimum visibility, she will be seated on the upper deck of a converted sightseeing boat, the Spirit of Chartwell. Fanfare: Tower Bridge will open to allow the flotilla to pass, cheered on by the throngs gathered to watch from the banks of the Thames Gloriana will be just in front, carrying the Queen’s trumpeters and eminent guests. Once the pageant is over, the Spirit of Chartwell will go back to running day trips for tourists.

Gloriana, however, will remain in all her royal glory for generations, serving as a floating centrepiece for royal occasions, civic events, education and even the occasional trip to Britain’s other great port cities. ‘It is so important that the Jubilee leaves a legacy, and here will be a permanent example of the historic link between power, pageantry and the Thames,’ says Lord Sterling of Plaistow, the man behind the Royal Rowbarge. A central figure in the organisation of the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees, the former P&O executive chairman had the idea for Gloriana four years ago after a call from the Prince of Wales’s office.

Soundtrack: The flotilla will be divided into 10 sections with music herald barges separating each group, playing music composed especially for the event, including church bells, herald fanfare trumpeters and an orchestra from the Academy of Ancient Music The 1,000-boat tribute will feature vessels from down the centuries on the River Thames, a seven-mile long procession of Dunkirk little ships, historic vessels, steam boats and tugs, rowed shallops and Dutch barges and passenger ships Charles had been contemplating a Jubilee river journey for the Queen from central London to Hampton Court Palace. ‘He asked me to come up with a few thoughts on an appropriate boat and that’s when I had this idea,’ says Lord Sterling. As with the national flagship, so Gloriana has been built with private money and will be run by a charity. Lord Sterling has met much of the £500,000 cost, along with a handful of other philanthropists. The plan is to hand her over to the Queen in the next couple of months, whereupon she will be placed in the care of the Maritime Heritage Trust.

Heroic past: Motor Torpedo Boat 102, which took part in the Dunkirk evacuations in the Second World War, will lead the flotilla Joining in: The Tenacious, designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals Nostalgia: BlueBird, a beautiful motor yacht built in 1938 for Malcolm Campbell, will be taking part in the pageant Both the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich and the Thames boat-building industry have been thrilled to have the chance to recreate a vessel not seen at Greenwich since Victorian times. ‘There’s been nothing like this in my lifetime,’ says Mark Edwards, master boatbuilder on the project. The next task will be to get the crew up to scratch. The Royal Watermen – limited to 24 in number – are all expert Thames skippers who turn out on state occasions in a scarlet tunic and stockings for the unprincely sum of £3.50 a year. One cannot possibly fault their loyalty or their patriotism. But they’re not Sir Steve Redgrave.

From massive crafts to one man boats: One of 80 sea kayaks that will join the flotilla; right, A familiar sight on the waters of the Thames, the Duck Tours passenger boat will get recognition for its long service to London's tourists as it joins the parade The Fire Flash will be one of a long line of fire boats taking part - and is set to fire a powerful jet of water from its hoses to mark the occasion Historic: HSL 102, a 100-Class High Speed launch, which was used by the RAF to rescue World War 2 airmen from the seas; right, Queen of the Lake, a passenger boat which normally operates on Lake Windermere, will make the pilgrimmage to London for the Jubilee Man power: Crews will man rowing boats that form part of the spectacular Majestic: The artist's impression of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee flotilla recalls Canaletto's famous painting, River Thames with St.

Paul's Cathedral on Lord Mayor's Day, c.1747-48 Mapped out: The route the pageant will take down the Thames MUSICAL FLOTILLA FOR THE THAMES PAGEANT The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant will feature a 1,000-strong flotilla divided into 10 sections with music herald barges separating each group. Here is a description of the music featured on the 10 barges: Celebration: The Queen will be marking 60 years on the Throne 1. The Royal Jubilee Bells Eight church bells, named the Royal Jubilee Bells, will be housed in a floating bell tower, believed to be a first for the River Thames. As an eight-strong team from the Ancient Society of College Youths, led by Dickon Love, ring a quarter peal, it will be answered by peals from churches along the route. The bells have been cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and will later be installed at the Church of St James Garlickhythe, in the City of London.

They will have the Royal Arms cast on them and each will be individually named after a senior member of the Royal Family with the great bell, half a ton in weight, christened Elizabeth in honour of the Queen. 2. Academy of Ancient Music An orchestra of 22 musicians from the Academy of Ancient Music, conducted by Richard Egarr, will rediscover the original sounds which Handel and his contemporaries would have known when they performed Handel’s Water Music - written to serenade the royal barge of George I - and Music for the Royal Fireworks. 3. Herald Fanfare Trumpeters Six trumpeters from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines perform a fanfare to each of the Thames bridges to herald the arrival of the Queen in her Royal Barge. 4. The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Popular nautical airs and marine marches played by 35 musicians from the band. 5. The Jubilant Commonwealth Choir A chorus of singers from across the Commonwealth will perform the world premiere of a song with lyrics by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and music by composer Orlando Gough.

The group, which features 120 amateur singers and five soloists, will also sing a cappella arrangements of traditional British folk songs under the direction of Mary King and Mr Gough. 6. Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band and Shree Muktajeevan Dhol Academy Fifty musicians from the Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band and Dhol Academy will play a mixture of traditional Indian melodies, Scottish tunes and Bollywood anthems on bagpipes and percussion. 7. New Water Music for the Diamond Jubilee A world premiere of music by 10 renowned UK film composers who have created a new movement using the original titles of Handel’s Water Music for inspiration. This new suite of music will be performed by an ensemble of 15 musicians. Composers include Anne Dudley, Graham Fitkin, Gavin Greenaway, Christopher Gunning, Adrian Johnston, John Lunn, Julian Nott, Jocelyn Pook, Stephen Warbeck and Debbie Wiseman. 8. The Mayor’s Junior Jubilee Brass Band A 75-piece brass band will perform the world premiere of A Celebration by Rachel Portman. The group has been created for the pageant by the Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians.

The band brings together students aged from 12 to 21 from London’s four music colleges - Guildhall School of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music and Trinity Laban - and the Mayor’s Music Scholars from the boroughs where the institutions are based. 9. To be announced at a later date. 10. London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Parry will perform a Last Night of the Proms-style repertoire of grand ceremonial works, British pastoral music and patriotic anthems by composers including Thomas Arne, Sir Malcolm Arnold, Benjamin Britten, Eric Coates, Sir Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst and Sir William Walton. Video: How the Queen's Diamond Jubilee boat will be transformed - Telegraph The Queen's Diamond Jubilee How the Queen's Diamond Jubilee boat will be transformed The owner of 'The Spirit of Chartwell' describes the changes his boat will have to go through before it carries the Queen down the Thames on June 3.

5:58PM GMT 18 Jan 2012 A seven-mile flotilla of 1,000 ships - one of them, 'The Spirit of Chartwell', carrying the Queen - will sail down the Thames in one of the biggest and most spectacular events ever seen in London to mark her 60 years on the throne. Its owner, Philip Morrell, said that a lot of work will need to be done: "The work that's got to be carried out is not internal because the internal spaces I think, will be difficult to beat, they are quite sumptuous. "The work that's going to have to be done is on the external appearance of the vessel to create some kind of connection between the coronation coach and the 60th anniversary on the third of June.

"So what's going to happen is a structure will be built which will be transparent so the whole world can see the royal family." Related Content Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant cheered by crowds - BBC News BBC News Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant cheered by crowds 3 June 2012 Close share panel Media captionWatch key moments from the Thames river pageant More than one million rain-soaked people have watched the Queen's 1,000-boat Diamond Jubilee pageant weave its way along the Thames, organisers say. The Queen's barge travelled among the flotilla of tugs, steamers, pleasure cruisers, dragon boats and kayaks. The London event was the highlight of the Jubilee weekend, but a fly-past was cancelled because of the weather. Some 10,000 people joined a Greenwich street party, one of many in the UK marking 60 years of the Queen's reign. The pageant - believed to be the Thames's most spectacular in 350 years - started at Albert Bridge with the ringing of Jubilee bells at 14:40 BST and ended as the last vessel completed the seven-mile route to Tower Bridge just after 18:00 BST.

The Queen, dressed in a white hat and a silver and white coat designed by Angela Kelly, travelled on the Spirit of Chartwell, which was decorated with 10,000 flowers from the royal estates. She was accompanied by her family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. At the scene - Tower Bridge By Philippa ThomasBBC News The biggest river pageant the modern Thames has ever seen ended with a brief flurry of fireworks, a stalwart tooting of horns and a final round of cheers from the river bank. Here on the south side of Tower Bridge, hundreds of spectators stuck it out to the end. They were drenched to the skin, but managed a chorus of Land of Hope and Glory - and a jolly few even swayed along as they waved their sodden Union flags. They'd waited for hours in good cheer through cold, mist and showers until they had had their glimpse of the Queen. She was, in truth, just a tiny figure on the Royal Barge, but the point at which the monarch passed by - especially with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, beside her - was a moment many were determined to be able to say they'd witnessed.

A boat carrying eight specially-cast Jubilee bells led the water-borne procession, with churches along the river bank returning the peal as it passed. There were 10 musical barges, carrying choirs and orchestras. The Spirit of Chartwell left Cadogan Pier once the rowing boats in the flotilla had safely passed. Leading the rowing boats was the million-pound row barge Gloriana, with Olympic gold medallists Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave among its 18 rowers. A collection of small ships used to rescue stranded troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 also took part, led by the Motor Torpedo boat 102, the flagship of the officer who co-ordinated the evacuation. Some 20,000 people were thought to have been in the boats of the flotilla, which travelled at 4 knots (4.6 mph), with the Thames barrier closed to slow the river's flow. A huge cheer went up whenever the royal barge came into the crowds' sights. Hungarian Laura Konig, 34, who lives in the London borough of Sutton, said: "I really enjoy the music.

When the boats with bands come by it's brilliant and the atmosphere is so cool. The weather could be better but apart from that it's an amazing day." The Queen smiled at the sight of a life-size puppet horse - from the play War Horse - which was running along the rooftop of the National Theatre. The Queen pointed out the performance to Camilla. Dozens of spectators at Tower Bridge were disappointed as security staff blocked off pathways due to fears of overcrowding, more than an hour before the flotilla was due to arrive. Media captionSurprise royal guests join Diamond Jubilee street party Tower Bridge raised as the royal barge approached, with heavy rain returning to the London skies as it moored to allow the Queen to watch the rest of the flotilla pass. The final music barge carrying members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir stopped next to the royal barge for a short performance. As it played a nautical tune, the Queen bobbed slightly, while the Duchess of Cornwall moved in time to the music.

The Guinness World Records said the pageant had set a new world record for the largest parade of boats, surpassing the previous record of 327 in Bremerhaven, Germany, last year. BBC Big Screens transmitted live coverage of the pageant in 22 locations around the UK including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Middlesbrough. Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the 86-year-old Queen during an interview on BBC One's Andrew Marr programme earlier, saying: "Her insight and her sharpness is extraordinary and I don't see any sign of her working less hard." His own Jubilee party in Downing Street was moved indoors because of the weather. In Piccadilly, central London, before the pageant, the BBC's Sangita Myska said there had been a "huge crush" as well-wishers flocked to greet a surprise visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall to a street party where 500 tables had been set up. In other news: Jubilee weekend trains into the capital were affected by overcrowding .

Organisers say six million people took part in tens of thousands of Big Jubilee Lunches across the UK in an initiative encouraging people to share food with neighbours and friends in street parties and picnics Morecambe, Lancashire, was aiming for the longest street party by beating the 1.5 miles (2.4 km) event held in Combe Martin, Devon, for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 Almost 9,500 road closure applications have been made across England and Wales, with Hertfordshire topping the street party list with 451 event licences A third of all of Scotland's street party applications have been made in Edinburgh, where 10 official events were scheduled Hundreds of street parties took place in Wales but the weather forced some to be postponed. The beach party at Rhosneigr, close to the Anglesey home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was rained off, but celebrations moved indoors Jubilee events are being held across the Commonwealth. In the Arctic, explorers from Devon are holding a party. In New York, 10 UK-registered yachts will fly union jack spinnaker sails in a salute.

In Afghanistan, troops at Camp Bastion held parties complete with bunting The £10m cost of the event has been met by private donations but the security costs will be paid for by the taxpayer. The London Ambulance Service said it and St John Ambulance treated 369 patients, 64 of whom were taken to hospital. Some 46 people from the flotilla have been treated, with six taken to hospital. Anti-monarchy group Republic says more than 1,000 protesters joined its demonstration against what it calls an unelected, unaccountable monarch. Its chief executive, Graham Smith, said most people had not been celebrating the Jubilee. He added: "Gay Pride in London gets many more people than were down here today, so does the Notting Hill Carnival, so you know it's not that big a deal." On Monday, a concert will be held in front of Buckingham Palace, ending with a firework display and more than 4,000 beacons are due to be lit in the UK and around the world.

See all the latest Diamond Jubilee news and features at bbc.co.uk/diamondjubilee Gloriana rowbarge will lead pageant of 1,000 boats in Diamond Jubilee showpiece | Daily Mail Online comments Leading the 1,000-strong flotilla will be the Gloriana. The 94ft Royal rowbarge – the first to be built for more than a century – is unique among the participating vessels in that it is the only one specially commissioned for the event. Originally it was intended that the Queen or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be on board but Her Majesty will now travel along the Thames on the Spirit of Chartwell. I was the first journalist to be granted access to the £1 million Gloriana and allowed to inspect its exquisite interior. An extraordinary amount of thought has gone into the design and the sourcing of materials so that she is imbued with rich historical significance. Testing the water: Royal boatmen put the Gloriana through her paces ahead of today’s pageant Labour of love: A rug bearing the Queen’s cipher is laid.

It was hand-woven in Nepal and features 240,000 knots A workman adds the final touches to the Royal Barge Gloriana in Richmond, London, ahead of today's celebrations The Spirit of Chartwell barge will carry the Queen and members of the Royal family during the celebrations Tall ships are moored along the River Thames ahead of Sunday's river pageant which will see 1,000 boats take part The coach, as the gilt and glass cabin is called, is breathtaking. It is entered through a crimson-gilt doorway guarded by 3ft gilded rampant lions – if they look dramatic, it is because they were made by Polygon Scenery, a firm that specialises in making carvings for films. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Inside the coach, there are banquettes of grey-green velvet. The walls feature panels in sweet chestnut, from trees felled on the Duchy of Cornwall estates. SEND US YOUR PICTURES Have you taken any pictures of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations? From The Thames to your town, we want to see them.

Send them for publication to the Mail Online on the email address: Mailonlinepictures@dailymail.co.uk The grey-green brocade cushions have been made by upholsterers George Smith, in Chelsea, and by Watts and Co, which made fabrics for the Queen's Coronation. A blue tasselled cushion was made from the Coronation altar cloth. The wooden floor is covered in a grey-green rug with the Queen's cipher woven in old gold on a fretwork pattern. It has been specially designed by Emily Todhunter and handwoven in Nepal in record time – under two months. On the ceiling are gilded Tudor roses, while ten delicately painted waterfowl, including lapwing, grebe heron, kingfisher and swan, can also be found. 'We wanted to show the colours of the Thames but in a nice way,' said the Gloriana's interior designer, Kate Woods. 'We wanted to remind people of what is floating past.' The ornamental paintwork was carried out by two firms – Carvers & Gilders and Hare & Humphreys.

During my visit, Catherine Quinn, of Hare & Humphreys, was putting the finishing touches to an old gold painting of a 'fouled' anchor, with its rope twisted around it. It is the insignia of the Lord High Admiral, a title the Queen conferred on her husband Prince Philip last year. On Her Majesty's service: The Royal cipher and motto glisten at the stern of the barge, which was commissioned for the Jubilee celebrations Finishing touches: Artist Catherine Quinn carefully paints a golden ‘fouled’ anchor, which is the official insignia of the Lord High Admiral Golden future: At the stern of the barge is this gold-leaf-covered dolphin created by Polygon Scenery, which often makes sculptures for films Intricate: A heraldic dolphin has been painted along the length of the rudder of the Gloriana Construction at Richmond Bridge Boathouses was completed under the supervision of Mark Edwards. Seventeen boatbuilders worked on the craft since the keel was laid last November. The Gloriana is the brainchild of P&O chairman Lord Sterling, who put up £500,000 towards the cost.

Other backers include NCP tycoon Sir Donald Gosling and Canadian billionaire Galen Weston. Lord Sterling has said: 'I became enamoured with the idea of building something timeless and got inspiration from Canaletto's paintings that showed the great barges of the 18th Century.' The Gloriana will be powered by 18 oarsmen, including Olympic gold medallists Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent, three servicemen – Will Dixon, Rory Mackenzie and Neil Heritage, who all lost limbs in blasts in Iraq and Afghanistan – and British Paralympic rowing hopeful Pamela Relph. The crew will be wearing a uniform of royal-blue tracksuit bottoms, T-shirts and baseball caps. This will be something of a departure for the three injured soldiers, who rowed across the Atlantic earlier this year for the charity Row2Recovery.

Attention to detail: As artist Catherine Quinn attends to the paintwork, right, two men lift the Royal insignia into place Roaring success: One of the gilded lions guarding the entrance to the coach, as the gilt and glass cabin is called 'We rowed naked most of the way,' said Neil, who lost both his legs when a suicide bomber blew himself up close to him in Iraq in 2004. 'The salt gets into your clothes and it's very abrasive. But apparently they don't want us to row nude this time.' The crew will be travelling at about four knots today, fuelled by Jelly Babies, plain chocolate biscuits and high-energy drinks. Given the competitive nature of those on board, it's perhaps not surprising they wanted to go faster during practice. 'It didn't take long for Steve Redgrave to say, "How fast do you think this thing can shift?" ' said Will, who lost his left leg in Afghanistan in 2009. 'We got it up to nine knots but we've got to be careful we don't go too fast. This is probably one of the few crews where you'll suddenly hear someone shout, "Hold on!

My prosthetic leg's fallen off!" as I heard Neil say during practice.' Guests on board will include Paralympic swimming champions Sascha Kindred and his wife Nyree, who both suffer from cerebral palsy, and Andrew Child, a former Royal Protection Officer. After the pageant, the Gloriana will be placed in the care of the Maritime Heritage Trust and will be used by organisations and charities, especially those connected to children and the disabled. Boatbuilder Mark Edwards added: 'The Gloriana will also have a ceremonial use. The Lord Mayor of London has asked about using it.' The Gloriana will certainly cover herself in glory today – and we can only wonder what other illustrious occasions she will be involved with in the future. Specially made: Final preparations on board the Gloriana, which features delicate ceiling paintings of waterfowl and velvet-covered furnishings Ready and waiting: Boats mooring up at Barn Elms, Putney, for the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant Boats line up ready to sail from South Quay to Tower Bridge before taking part in the Diamond Jubilee pageant At-a-glance timetable How the flotilla will be spread over the Thames.

Scroll down for an explanation of what's in each of the groups numbered one to ten The man-powered fleet, number 1 on the map above The Commonwealth flags flotilla, numbered 2 on the map above THE SPIRIT OF CHARTWELL AND THE ROYAL SQUADRON (NUMBERED 3 ON MAP ABOVE) WHAT ARE THEY? Boats for handpicked VIPs, senior members of the Royal Family, plus their relatives and most loyal servants. BOATS TO LOOK OUT FOR: The most important boat of the day is the Royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, carrying the most senior Royals. Also, look out for the Havengore, hosting other prominent Royal guests. WHO IS ABOARD? On the Spirit of Chartwell you will see the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. On Havengore are the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, former Prime Minister Sir John Major with his wife Dame Norma, plus Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

SPIRIT OF CHARTWELL: With a rich red, gold and purple colour scheme, the Royal Barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, has been given an extravagant makeover to make it fit for its Royal passengers. It is now lavishly decorated with 17th Century furniture and will be garlanded with flowers from the Royal gardens, arranged by Gardeners’ World presenter Rachel de Thame. This makeover has taken more than a year of careful planning, overseen by Joseph Bennett. He is an award-winning designer who has worked on film sets as well as catwalk presentations for Alexander McQueen – the fashion house that has become a favourite among Royals since its head designer, Sarah Burton, designed the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown last year. Yachtsmen wearing ceremonial uniforms will man the decks and the barge will be surrounded by a fleet of smaller vessels. On the deck, the Royal guests will be attended by butlers serving only fine English wines. The Spirit of Chartwell itself has been lent for the day by businessman Philip Morrell, who made his fortune in the travel industry and spent part of his childhood at a Barnardo’s children’s home that was once visited by Prince Philip.

Thousands of applicants offered the loan of their boats for the pageant but the Spirit of Chartwell was selected for its sturdy safety mechanisms. Mr Morrell says: ‘As the Spirit of Chartwell evolved, I knew we had built something special . . . But little did I suspect that in the course of one year we should be graced with such an honour.’ The Dunkirk Little Ships, numbered 4on the map above Historic and service vessels, numbered 5 on the map above Roads, Tubes, buses, brides ... what's open and what's closed ROADS: There will be extensive closures to the roads in Central London and all visitors are advised to use public transport rather than drive. The closures begin at 7am and stretch from the roads around Battersea Park in South-West London all the way along the Thames to Wapping in East London, encompassing the majority of roads alongside the river on the north and south sides. A street party will see Piccadilly closed from 7am until at least 6pm. The Mall will also be unavailable for both motorists and pedestrians during the day.

TUBES: The majority of Underground lines will be running as normal, although two sections of the London overground – Richmond to Willesden Junction and South Tottenham to Barking – will be closed for engineering work. Visitors are advised to check the Transport for London website (tfl.co.uk) for last-minute updates and changes. BUSES: Most bus routes will either be diverted away from the centre or will not run their full routes. Bus services that usually cross the river between Battersea Bridge and Tower Bridge inclusive will not do so throughout the day between 7am and 9.30pm. Instead, a number of ‘bus hubs’ will be established at or near to transport interchanges either side of the river. Bus hubs will be located at Liverpool Street, Aldgate, Battersea Bridge Road, Chelsea World’s End, Elephant & Castle, Holborn, Holborn Circus, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Moorgate Finsbury Square, Piccadilly, Tottenham Court Road, Tower Bridge Road, Vauxhall and Victoria. BRIDGES: Each of the Thames bridges has its own rules during the Thames Pageant. Most bridges are closed and of those that remain open, the pavements are reserved for specially invited guests.

Only London Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Waterloo Bridge are open to pedestrians and traffic, except when the pageant passes underneath them at points between 3pm and 5.30pm. Tower Bridge, the Millennium Footbridge, Albert Bridge and Hungerford Bridge are closed to both traffic and pedestrians from 7am until the early evening. Lambeth, Westminster and Blackfriars bridges will be closed to traffic and pedestrians, but each will have north and south-facing viewing screens, with both ends of both bridges open to the public. Battersea and Chelsea bridges will be open for pedestrians from 7am until early evening. Both bridges will be closed to traffic. Southwark Bridge will be closed to pedestrians. DISABLED ACCESS: There will be four designated viewing areas for spectators requiring disabled access, but arrive early as they’re allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The viewing areas can be found at Albert Embankment, Battersea Park, Butler’s Wharf and Victoria Tower Gardens. Disabled toilet facilities will be located within each of these viewing areas. Victoria Tower Gardens and Albert Embankment will both have viewing platforms for wheelchair-users.

The pageant in numbers: 10,000 street parties and dragon boats from 2,500 years ago THE MAN BEHIND IT ALL The Prince of Wales (right) with (left to right) Pageant Master Adrian Evans, Chief Executive of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation and Chairman of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation Lord Salisbury The gargantuan task of co-ordinating the pageant – and raising the £10.5 million it has cost – was bestowed upon Lord Salisbury, an ex-merchant banker and Tory MP who was appointed chairman of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation two years ago. With experience of organising other events, including those that surrounded the 50th anniversary of D-Day, he was well equipped for the role. But it remained a huge and difficult undertaking. From the sensitive task of deciding which boats would carry which VIPs, to deciding where to position the music barge so it didn’t deafen Her Majesty, his is a role that has required a balance of delicacy and rigour. ‘There were myriad hurdles along the way,’ explains Lord Salisbury, pictured right, with Prince Charles.

‘I’m beginning to realise that the river can easily be a dangerous place which is why nothing on this scale has ever happened in history, certainly not on the Thames.’ He admits that while he has tried to foresee every contingency, ‘anything at all could go wrong – in fact, the only reliable element is the Queen. We know she won’t go wrong’. Lord Salisbury’s biggest concern is disappointing the million spectators expected to flock to the river. He said: ‘It’s going to be difficult if there are large numbers, but I hope they will still feel they are part of a big occasion, even if there are so many people that they can’t quite get to the riverside.’

Question: In the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant what was the name of the boat carrying the Queen?
Answer: THE SPIRIT OF CHARTWELL