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| Diamond jubilee rain fails to dampen Thames flotilla fervour | Diamond jubilee rain fails to dampen Thames flotilla fervour |
| (4 months later) | |
| The poor souls who braved central London's grey, sodden dawn to get the best vantage point for Sunday's 1,000-boat flotilla to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee found the banks of the Thames already lined with revellers. | The poor souls who braved central London's grey, sodden dawn to get the best vantage point for Sunday's 1,000-boat flotilla to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee found the banks of the Thames already lined with revellers. |
| Scores who had camped overnight were inadequately protected by tents, umbrellas, cagoules, and bin bags. The most organised brought camping stoves and sausages, bacon, and eggs for a jubilee fry-up. | Scores who had camped overnight were inadequately protected by tents, umbrellas, cagoules, and bin bags. The most organised brought camping stoves and sausages, bacon, and eggs for a jubilee fry-up. |
| There were reports of many people dressed in red, white and blue left standing on station platforms across the Midlands, unable to get onto jammed trains to London. In the city centre the train and tube platforms nearest the river were packed as soon as public transport began. | There were reports of many people dressed in red, white and blue left standing on station platforms across the Midlands, unable to get onto jammed trains to London. In the city centre the train and tube platforms nearest the river were packed as soon as public transport began. |
| The Thames barrier was lifted at 9am to reduce the flow of the incoming tide, as the crews – from historic motor launches to small rowing boats – struggled to organise into an orderly procession. As the flotilla set off downstream, the tide had turned and the challenge for engines or tiring arms was to keep to an absolutely steady four knots an hour – essential to allow so many boats get through the narrow arches of the bridges without causing massive traffic jams. | The Thames barrier was lifted at 9am to reduce the flow of the incoming tide, as the crews – from historic motor launches to small rowing boats – struggled to organise into an orderly procession. As the flotilla set off downstream, the tide had turned and the challenge for engines or tiring arms was to keep to an absolutely steady four knots an hour – essential to allow so many boats get through the narrow arches of the bridges without causing massive traffic jams. |
| The flotilla of 1,000 ships recreates the spectacle of royal pageants of old, inspired by a Canaletto painting now on display at the Maritime museum in Greenwich. More than 20,000 people will be on the boats, watched by at least 1 million people lining the river's banks and bridges as central London comes to a virtual standstill. | The flotilla of 1,000 ships recreates the spectacle of royal pageants of old, inspired by a Canaletto painting now on display at the Maritime museum in Greenwich. More than 20,000 people will be on the boats, watched by at least 1 million people lining the river's banks and bridges as central London comes to a virtual standstill. |
| Up to 50 large screens have been placed along the river for people to view the spectacle, which sets off from Putney at 2.30pm and finishes at Tower Bridge at 5.30pm when the last of the vessels arrive. | Up to 50 large screens have been placed along the river for people to view the spectacle, which sets off from Putney at 2.30pm and finishes at Tower Bridge at 5.30pm when the last of the vessels arrive. |
| The flotilla, the largest such pageant for 350 years, will range from rowing boats to military boats, including the Spirit of Chartwell, which was transformed over six months from a river cruiser into a royal barge fit to carry the Queen and her family – complete with gold leaf, ornamented carving and more than 1,000 plants and cut flower arrangements. | The flotilla, the largest such pageant for 350 years, will range from rowing boats to military boats, including the Spirit of Chartwell, which was transformed over six months from a river cruiser into a royal barge fit to carry the Queen and her family – complete with gold leaf, ornamented carving and more than 1,000 plants and cut flower arrangements. |
| The leader of the flotilla is Gloriana, a spectacular new, but historic-looking, rowed barge built on the Thames as a jubilee gift for the Queen. | The leader of the flotilla is Gloriana, a spectacular new, but historic-looking, rowed barge built on the Thames as a jubilee gift for the Queen. |
| Other vessels will include a contingent of Dunkirk "little ships" and tall ships such as the Southampton-based Tenacious, which will be sailed by a mixed crew of able-bodied and disabled people. | Other vessels will include a contingent of Dunkirk "little ships" and tall ships such as the Southampton-based Tenacious, which will be sailed by a mixed crew of able-bodied and disabled people. |
| More than 20 vessels from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are being drafted in for the occasion to help with safety on the river. Another vessel will take on a ceremonial role during the pageant in celebration of the 60,000 lives saved by the RNLI during the Queen's reign. | More than 20 vessels from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are being drafted in for the occasion to help with safety on the river. Another vessel will take on a ceremonial role during the pageant in celebration of the 60,000 lives saved by the RNLI during the Queen's reign. |
| The £2.7m boat, renamed diamond jubilee in honour of the Queen, patron of the RNLI, will join the flotilla. Allen Head of the RNLI said: "We have got 24 lifeboats on the river and they will be looking after the vessels that are part of the event but also the general public that will be enjoying the spectacle." | The £2.7m boat, renamed diamond jubilee in honour of the Queen, patron of the RNLI, will join the flotilla. Allen Head of the RNLI said: "We have got 24 lifeboats on the river and they will be looking after the vessels that are part of the event but also the general public that will be enjoying the spectacle." |
| Despite the gloomy truth of the forecasts of chilly rain, Battersea and Hyde parks were also filling early for day-long family festivals, while thousands of street parties also take place around the country. Some were hastily reorganised into village halls, as the jubilee coincides with the Big Lunch, a charity initiative designed to get communities to spend time together. | Despite the gloomy truth of the forecasts of chilly rain, Battersea and Hyde parks were also filling early for day-long family festivals, while thousands of street parties also take place around the country. Some were hastily reorganised into village halls, as the jubilee coincides with the Big Lunch, a charity initiative designed to get communities to spend time together. |
| The planned giant beach party on Anglesey, near the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was one of those transferred indoors. | The planned giant beach party on Anglesey, near the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was one of those transferred indoors. |
| More than 9,500 applications for road closures have been approved across the UK, almost twice as many as for last year's royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. | More than 9,500 applications for road closures have been approved across the UK, almost twice as many as for last year's royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. |
| The beginning of the jubilee weekend was marked on Saturday by the Queen's traditional visit to the Epsom Derby to watch the thoroughbreds race. The Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins had the honour of performing the national anthem in front of 130,000 patriotic racegoers after the monarch had driven on to the course in a Bentley customised with a Royal Standard on the roof. | The beginning of the jubilee weekend was marked on Saturday by the Queen's traditional visit to the Epsom Derby to watch the thoroughbreds race. The Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins had the honour of performing the national anthem in front of 130,000 patriotic racegoers after the monarch had driven on to the course in a Bentley customised with a Royal Standard on the roof. |
| Buckingham Palace becomes the centre of attention on Monday with the BBC jubilee concert getting under way at 7.30pm, when conditions could be drier and brighter. | Buckingham Palace becomes the centre of attention on Monday with the BBC jubilee concert getting under way at 7.30pm, when conditions could be drier and brighter. |
| More than 10,000 ticket holders will see artists including Robbie Williams, Dame Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder, JLS, Jessie J and Elton John perform. One of the highlights will be the group Madness, performing their hit Our House on the roof of the palace. A visual tribute will also see diamond jubilee beacons light up the night sky across the UK on Monday, with more than 4,000 expected to be lit here and in the Commonwealth. | More than 10,000 ticket holders will see artists including Robbie Williams, Dame Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder, JLS, Jessie J and Elton John perform. One of the highlights will be the group Madness, performing their hit Our House on the roof of the palace. A visual tribute will also see diamond jubilee beacons light up the night sky across the UK on Monday, with more than 4,000 expected to be lit here and in the Commonwealth. |
| Festivities climax on Tuesday with a religious service, a procession through the streets of London and the royal family's appearance on the palace balcony to acknowledge the tens of thousands expected to fill the Mall. | Festivities climax on Tuesday with a religious service, a procession through the streets of London and the royal family's appearance on the palace balcony to acknowledge the tens of thousands expected to fill the Mall. |
| By the end of the weekend, an estimated 2 million people are expected to have left the country, with many republicans perhaps among them. | By the end of the weekend, an estimated 2 million people are expected to have left the country, with many republicans perhaps among them. |
| The anti-monarchy group Republic has promised the "biggest anti-monarchy protest in living memory" at the Thames pageant. A jubilee pub night organised by the group takes place later on Sunday evening. | The anti-monarchy group Republic has promised the "biggest anti-monarchy protest in living memory" at the Thames pageant. A jubilee pub night organised by the group takes place later on Sunday evening. |
| The British Monarchist Society was entrenched in force near Tower Bridge by early morning, predicting that the republican protest would be a washout — but highly indignant that their large laminated God Save The Queen banners had been banned as too large and likely to prove a hazard in the crowds. | The British Monarchist Society was entrenched in force near Tower Bridge by early morning, predicting that the republican protest would be a washout — but highly indignant that their large laminated God Save The Queen banners had been banned as too large and likely to prove a hazard in the crowds. |
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