One million people line the banks of the Thames to watch the Queen's Diamond Jubilee flotilla
Royal salute: The Queen waves to the crowds while on board her ship with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales
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Kensington And Chelsea
03 June 2012
Up to one million people lined the banks of the River Thames today in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Well-wishers took their seats early in the day, despite cold and wet conditions, to watch as the 1,000 strong flotilla of ships passed along the river.
The Queen boarded her ship, The Spirit of Chartwell, wearing a striking silver and white dress and matching coat.
She boarded a small launch at Chelsea pier which took her and the Duke of Edinburgh onto the larger craft, decorated with flowers and plants, with velvet and gold medallions along its side.
The royal standard was raised on the ship and she was seen smiling as she took to the water to celebrate her 60th year as Monarch.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived at Chelsea Pier ahead of the Queen.
Charles wore his Royal Navy Admiral's ceremonial day dress uniform, while his wife was wearing an Anna Valentine coat and dress with a hat designed by Philip Teacy.
Onlookers cheered as Princes William and Harry, and the Duchess of Cambridge boarded The Spirit of Charwell.
First Sea Lord Admiral Mark Stanhope greeted the Queen as she boarded the boat.
London Mayor Boris Johnson took part with wife Marina Wheeler on board the Havengore.
The police operation for the flotilla was one of the biggest London has ever seen, with a total of 6,000 officers on the ground for the event.
No arrests were made for any public order offences as the flotilla got underway.
Weather forecasters rightly predicted rain but up to a million people turned out to watch the spectacle despite the weather.
The flotilla of ships was a spectacle not seen on the Thames for more than 300 years.
Kayaks, skiffs, Dunkirk little ships and dragon boats, and tugs, barges, rowed shallops and passenger vessels all formed the 1,000 strong flotilla.
At its head was a ten-tonne floating belfry which rang bells throughout the flotilla's route on the river.
Each bell was named after a senior member of the royal family.
Celebrities taking part in the pageant included Olympic gold medallists Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave, rowing with 16 others in the million-pound row barge, Gloriana.
Sir Steve Redgrave said: "It is feeling really good. Amazing crowds.
"This is very very special. As long as we get there first - we are all very competitive and we are trying not to race.
"It is absolutely incredible - a fantastic honour."
Kate's parents Michael and Carole Middleton boarded the 19th century paddle steamer the Elizabethan along with London 2012 Olympic chief Lord Coe, as well as the BBC's director-general Mark Thompson.
Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha watched from the moored Corvette HMS President in the City.
Near Tower Bridge, the royal barge moored up and the Royal Family watched the flotilla pass by.
The pageant was one of the highlights of the four-day Diamond Jubilee weekend, which also features a Jubilee concert outside of Buckingham Palace, multiple lunches and receptions, and a procession through London.
Prime Minister David Cameron earlier praised the "stability" that the Queen brought to the Britain.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he said: "I think one of the great things that a monarch brings, and particularly a Royal Family and Her Majesty the Queen personally brings, is this sense of national unity and stability, someone who the whole country can identify with.
"It doesn't matter whether people are Labour or Conservative or Liberal Democrat or can't bear any politicians. There's at the head of state someone who the whole country can revere and look up to, a great symbol of national unity, of continuity, that links British people with our institutions, with our history, with our relations with other countries, with the Commonwealth.
"All of those things help to anchor us, so I think it's a great source of strength and stability, both now and into the future."
He also quashed the idea of the Queen abdicating in favour of her grandson the Duke of Cambridge: "It's hard to think of ever her putting a foot wrong.
"And you get the sense with her that she will go on doing the amazing job she's done for this country as long as she possibly can and you never see any sign of her devotion getting any less."
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