JUBILEE revellers heading to London today to watch one of the largest flotillas assembled on the Thames should brace themselves for wet weather, forecasters have said.
Thousands of spectators are more likely to be huddling under umbrellas than basking in sunshine as 1,000 boats sail down the river to mark the Queen’s 60th year on the throne.
Andy Ratcliff, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “London will see rain at times and there could be the odd heavy burst. It will be a chilly day so people should dress accordingly.
“We will probably see a high of 11C so the advice is to take wet weather gear and be prepared for pulses of rain. It will not be the sunny day people may have hoped for.”
Those seeking a long weekend in the sun would be better off heading for the south coast, which should remain dry with highs of 18C.
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Street parties in the east and west of the country will be blighted by rain, which will be heaviest in Wales and western parts of the Midlands.
In Scotland, there will be sunshine but with a fair amount of cloud in eastern areas, while in Northern Ireland it is expected to remain cloudy, Ratcliff said.
The finishing touches were being put on the royal barge yesterday in preparation for the river pageant. The Spirit of Chartwell will be at the centre of the 1,000-strong flotilla.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will be joined on the barge by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
The Thames river cruiser was donated for the event by Philip Morrell, the owner, and transformed in a project led by Joseph Bennett, a designer. The vessel’s look will echo the richly decorated royal barges of the 17th and 18th centuries.
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It will travel from Albert Bridge to Tower Bridge and is one of 1,000 ships, boats, yachts and other vessels taking part in the pageant, which begins at 11.30am at Hammersmith and Battersea bridges.