19:50 New York has also been celebrating the Diamond Jubilee: or at least, the patrons of “British Avenue” have been. Curly Wurlies, sausage rolls and Jubilee souvenir teapots have been flying off the shelves. Read Tim Teeman’s blog post here.
19:45 Boris Johnson on today’s events in London: “It has been a magnificent day, the scale of which we haven’t seen in our lifetime, with over a million people lining the river to show their admiration for Her Majesty. The spectacle of the royal barge and the 1,000 strong flotilla was an awesome sight and neither the wind nor the rain could dampen people’s spirits.”
19:34 The Thames Pageant is over, but the Diamond Jubilee weekend is not. Tomorrow a network of 2,012 beacons will be lit through the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth, starting with Tonga at 0900 and finishing when the Queen herself lights the last one at 2230.
Also tomorrow is the BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace, featuring giants of pop music including Paul MacCartney, Elton John and Shirley Bassey.
On Tuesday the Queen will take part in an elaborate carriage procession through central London, attending a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. More details of the festivities can be found here.
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19:14 Further fashion notes: Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council, described the Queen’s outfit as having a “timeless elegance” and Kate’s ensemble as “chic perfection”.
The monarch’s Angela Kelly silver and white dress and coat was created from white boucle, a fabric which has a fine textured feel, and threaded throughout with silk ribbon. The material was embroidered with gold, silver and ivory spots and embellished with Swarovski crystals.
“Timeless elegance is what she always portrays,” said Mr Tillman. “It was outstanding - beautiful fabric. It got my vote. It’s a difficult job being up to date and staying regal. She picks the right look for the right occasion for the right country.”
On the Duchess of Cambridge’s red ensemble, he said: “Stunning. She embodies style and fashion – chic perfection.”
Mr Tillman also praised the Duchess of Cornwall’s Anna Valentine outfit, saying: “A great colour. It suited her.”
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19:02 An estimated 1.25 million people watched the pageant through London, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation has said. Guinness World Records said that a total of 670 verified boats completed the pageant route to achieve the new world record.
18:28 A scene from earlier today: David Cameron with Scouts at the Downing Street (indoor) street party.
18:25 The Queen emerges from the barge to whoops and cheers from the crowd, and walks up the gangway to HMS President, the home of the Royal Naval Reserve in London, chatting to the First Sea Lord as she goes. That’s the end of the pageant. The Queen seems to have enjoyed an excellent day, but she must be glad of a chance to warm up.
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18:10 Nine naval helicopters of the Fleet Air Arm had been due to form a Diamond Nine formation for the fly-past, accompanied by a Fairey Swordfish biplane.
“Unfortunately because of the weather conditions, the proposed helicopter fly past in diamond formation will now not take place,” a spokeswoman for the Pageant organisers said.
18:05 The Queen leaves the barge, smiling broadly from beneath her see-through umbrella as she leads her family past their guests and starts down the steps. She must be freezing. A couple of the guests are wearing flimsy plastic ponchos over their smart outfits.
18:03 With a rumble of kettle drums, the national anthem is sung. Plumes of pink and white fireworks blast from the pillars of Tower Bridge, and every boat on the river sounds its horn as the bascules of the bridge are lowered. The smoke becomes indistinguishable from the low cloud. HMS Belfast fires a salute.
18:00 The orchestra and Royal College of Chamber Music choir launch into Rule Britannia. The rain lashes down. The crowd goes wild.
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Earlier, the orchestra played the James Bond theme as they passed the MI6 headquarters in Pimlico.
17:57 Some of the crowd are already belting out God Save the Queen but the London Philharmonic hasn’t run through its playlist yet - they strike up the hornpipe and members of the royal party jig along. Charles and Camilla, William and Harry are very much into the spirit and the Queen is definitely keeping time.
17:51 The final vessel, bearing the London Philharmonic Orchestra, passes beneath Tower Bridge playing Land of Hope and Glory. The choir of the Royal College of Chamber Music on the top deck are soaked.
17:45 The flypast that was due to form the finale has been cancelled due to bad weather, Sky News reports. No news on the daytime fireworks on the pillars of Tower Bridge: hopefully the rain has not rendered them damp squibs.
17:43 All the tourist vessels passing the Queen are packed, and tend to list to port as everyone aboard rushes to one side to glimpse the monarch. The rear of the flotilla approaches Tower Bridge. The rain continues unabated.
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17:35 Earlier, we heard from Ian Gilbert, skipper of the Dunkirk little ship Papillon. Having passed the Royal Barge, he said: “When you’re at the helm you tend to miss alot of what’s going on because you’re just so focused, but it was very enjoyable and it was all worth it. This isn’t going to happen again in our lifetime. I don’t think anyone will put a show like this on again in our lifetime.
“We’re particularly proud because we had the biggest contingent of any association and I think that shows the importance of these little boats to the country and to the sovereign.”
A scene from earlier this afternoon: the Gloriana leads the flotilla.
17:33 In Scotland, a street party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the Queen’s official Scottish residence, attracted about 100 people including families and tourists. There was no rain.
It was one of about 100 official street parties held in Scotland, about a third of them in Edinburgh. About 400 people attended a street party in the city’s Murrayfield Avenue, and afternoon tea was held on the Royal Mile.
In Aberdeen’s Duthie Park, a free concert included the world premiere of the Aberdeen Anthem, which was gifted to the city by Professor in Composition Paul Mealor at the University of Aberdeen to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
17:13 It’s official: the pageant has taken the world record for the largest parade of boats, surpassing the previous record of 327 achieved last year in Bremerhaven, Germany, says Guinness World Records.
The record was announced as 419 boats reached Tower Bridge. But that’s not even the half of it: up to 1,000 vessels are expected to make the seven-mile journey down the Thames.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra, following up the rear as it passes the Houses of Parliament, is playing the Dambusters theme. The choir, braving the rain on the top deck, have just sung Jerusalem. The soaking crowds are delighted.
On the royal barge, the royal party are bearing up well given the chill and the sheets of rainwater running off the canopy over their heads.
17:05 An estimated six million people in the UK have joined a Big Jubilee Lunch today, the organisers claim. The largest was in Greenwich, south-east London, where up to 10,000 people sat down to eat in celebration of the Queen’s 60-year reign.
Lunches have also taken place all over the world, including the Pakistani capital Islamabad, Delhi, Durban and on the Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu.
Peter Stewart, Big Jubilee Lunch project director said: “It has really captured the nation’s imagination, not to say its love of a royal celebration. We have been bowled over by the response from people up and down the country.”
17:01 The Queen appears to have put on a shawl, and who can blame her - it’s cold out on the river. Commentators have been speculating that she has preferred to stand during the trip down the Thames so she can use the throne on the royal barge as a windbreak.
16:58 A response from the Association of Train Operating Companies to criticisms earlier that too few trains were running into London to cope with the crowds heading into town for the pageant.
A spokesman said: “Train companies have been running extra services today and adding carriages at the busiest times of the day to get people to and from the celebrations as quickly and easily as possible. But of course we apologise in instances where trains have been very busy and passengers haven’t got the service that they expect.”
16:54 Coming through Tower Bridge now is a fire boat squirting coloured water from its hoses. Unfortunately the effect is slightly diminished by the quantity of water already falling through the atmosphere. The fact that the pageant still looks so bright is a tribute to the huge quantities of bunting and flags.
16:50 Spectators on Tower Bridge.
16:43 More fashion notes: Princess Eugenie wore a coral Roland Mouret dress with a Moschino cardigan, LK Bennett shoes and black and coral Stephen Jones hat.
Princess Beatrice’s silver and pink hat was by Stephen Jones. She also wore a Suzannah silver and navy dress and navy blue coat by Marni.
16:41 The Queen is standing on her barge, as the rain pours down, with Harry and William behind her, as the little ships come through.
The barge carrying the orchestra is also heading towards Tower Bridge, playing Greensleeves and now Nimrod.
16:34 A tweet from the BBC’s Peter Hunt: “Queen and Camilla chatting animatedly on royal barge. 10 years ago, that would have been unthinkable.”
16:29 The crew of HMS President give three cheers for the Queen as the Spirit of Chartwell draws up at the pontoon beside it. The skies have opened: it’s pouring out there, but the crowds are packed tight into every space that the waterside has to offer, with their umbrellas up. The band of the Royal Marines, on a barge leading the Dunkirk little ships, is playing. Reign/rain puns abound throughout the media.
16:25 The sky over east London is as murky as would be expected for midwinter, and the flashes of countless cameras pinprick the riverbanks as the Spirit of Chartwell floats beneath Tower Bridge and begins to swing round to moor. There is still an hour of the spectacle to go, as the flotilla passes.
16:15 The Spirit of Chartwell is nearing its destination approaching HMS Belfast where a guard of honour pipes and sailors give three cheers. The Gloriana has already passed under Tower Bridge, followed by the flotilla of rowing boats. Every boat with a horn is tooting it regularly.
The Thames Barrier has remained raised throughout the day, which has been a major factor in the waters of the Thames being so calm.
16:00 As the Royal Barge passes the National Theatre, the Queen is delighted by a brief canter from one of the equine War Horse puppets across the balcony of Royal Festival Hall.
15:59 Some of those rowers must be getting tired now. Just as well they closed the Thames Barrier of they’d have been rowing against the tide. Not so much fun...
15:39 The Royal Barge passes under Lambeth Bridge and approaches the Houses of Parliament.
15:35 A scene from Bristol: the street party in Millennium Square.
15:29 The barge carrying the bells has been recently employed transporting rubbish away from the Olympic site in Stratford, east London.
15:21 On the promenade at Morecambe, Lancashire, helpers set up what they hope will be the world’s largest street party.
15:16 At a street party in Sheffield, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg shares a Victoria sponge cake with Christopher Thompson.
Mr Clegg and his wife, Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, brought a Victoria sponge cake to the event on Totley Hall Mead, in Totley, Sheffield. The Deputy Prime Minister also indulged in a pasty.
“It is fantastic that right across Sheffield and the rest of the country people are coming together to celebrate this historic occasion,” said Mr Clegg. “Miriam and I were delighted to join in with celebrations. We are grateful to local residents who have pitched in to help organise events like this in their local community.
“We might not have the sun, but that hasn’t put people off getting in the spirit and having a great party.”
Around 20 people attended the party, which was organised by people living on Totley Hall Drive and Totley Hall Mead.
15:14 “She’s the business.” That was the verdict on the Queen of Staff Sergeant Paul Tabbitt, at a Diamond Jubilee party which his wife helped organise for 100 members of the Royal Dragoon Guards and their families at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire.
Some of the troops may be posted to Afghanistan later this year, and Staff Sergeant Tabbitt’s wife, Kelly, and her friend Julie Kelly, spent two months organising today’s Mrs Kelly’s husband, Captain Billy Kelly, said: “It’s a patriotic thing. Because of what the Queen is and who she is, is why she gets so much support from the British public and around the world.
“The opportunity to celebrate this and get together with all the families regimentally is a fantastic opportunity. Anything where the troops can get together with their families will raise morale.”
14:53 Rowers pass the Dunkirk Little ships on their way up the river.
14:52 The Duke of York and princesses Beatrice and Eugenie earlier made a surprise visit to a Jubilee lunch at All Saints Church in Pryors Bank – one of the oldest churches in Fulham.
Flags fluttered in the chilly breeze, hundreds of guests enjoyed tea and cake, and Fulham Brass Band played the national anthem.
In a speech to the crowd, the Duke said: “It is an enormous pleasure to be here and join you at your lunch. This is such a wonderful atmosphere and expression of loyalty to Her Majesty.
“Beatrice, Eugenie and I are delighted to be included in your event, and we would like to express our gratitude and say you are included in our event as well.”
The Duke was wearing his navy best as he greeted residents, while Princess Beatrice sported a silver and black dress with silver hat and younger sister Eugenie was in a simple peach fishtail dress and black sequined fascinator.
The Vicar at All Saints, Canon Joe Hawes, said it had been an honour to welcome the royals. We are most thrilled, completely honoured and very surprised that they are taking the time to do this when they have to be on a boat in half an hour. It’s really important for them to come to our community event, which is amazing for us.”
14:48 Passing the Royal Barge are sailing boats, one representing each of the Commonwealth countries, each bearing that nation’s flag and crewed by Sea Cadets.
14:46 Up to a million people are expected to line the banks of the Thames today. The spectacle is yet to come: the Queen and Prince Philip will not arrive at Tower Bridge until about 4pm.
Then they will disembark and take their places aboard HMS President, the former Royal Navy corvette permanently moored near Blackfriars Bridge, to watch the rest of the seven mile-long flotilla.
14:42 The waterborne belfry comes into action with a quarter-peal from its eight bells, which are all named after senior royals. The heaviest, weighing half a tonne, is called Elizabeth. Beside it is Philip. The pageant is declared well and truly open.
14:36 As the rowers pass the Queen, they will “toss oars” in salute. This is a difficult maneouvre, in which the oars are taken from the rowlocks and held up vertically, the rowers having got up enough speed to continue moving past unpowered.
14:32 The Royal Standard is run up on the bow of the Spirit of Chartwell. It is from here that the Queen will watch the rowing boats pass. She is welcomed aboard by Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord.
14:31 The sailor takes a line from a colleague aboard the barge and ties the launch alongside. Meanwhile in Putney the small boats line up ready to sail past. The Gloriana’s oarsmen get underway, leading the rowing boats.
The crowds cheer, the toot of novelty trumpets can be heard. No vuvuzelas yet.
14:29 The launch passes beneath Albert Bridge. At Cadogan Pier, on the upper deck of the Spirit of Chartwell, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are waiting.
The launch comes alongside the Spirit of Chartwell, a sailor standing to attention on the bow ready with a boathook. He’s from the Royal Yacht ship’s company.
14:24 Fashion notes for the Duchess of Cambridge: she is wearing a red Alexander McQueen dress and matching Sylvia Fletcher hat from James Lock & Co.
Kate’s wedding gown was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, and the distinctive maple leaf hat that she wore on her tour of Canada last summer.
Kate’s maritime-themed brooch features two silver dolphins and was a gift from the Royal Navy Submarine Service, of which William is Commodore in Chief. Her hair was safely held in place away from the wind in a half up, half down do.
The Duke of Cambridge, meanwhile, is wearing his Flight Lieutenant No 1 Dress Uniform complete with blue garter sash, while his brother Prince Harry, a Captain in the British Army, was wearing the No 1 Ceremonial dress of the Blues and Royals and the light blue beret of the Army Air Corps.
14:21 The Queen is wearing a silver and white dress and matching coat designed by Angela Kelly and made by her small in-house Buckingham Palace team. It has been a year in the planning.
Its colour scheme was chosen to stand out against the red, gold and purple hues of the royal barge. It is created from white boucle, a fabric which has a fine textured feel, and threaded throughout with silk ribbon.
The boucle was embroidered with gold, silver and ivory spots and embellished with Swarovski crystals to reflect the River Thames. The outfit was finished with a silk organza frill.
The Queen’s hat had a swept up brim, the crown of which was made of the same material as the coat. Details on the hat included feathers hand dyed in Buckingham Palace by one of Miss Kelly’s team who spent a number of months making the whole outfit. More silk organza and Swarovski crystals were used to decorate this uniquely shaped hat.
14:17 Up on Battersea Rail Bridge, the LMS Coronation Class steam locomotive Princess Elizabeth toots its whistle in salute. This is what it takes to drown out the cheers of the crowds on the riverbanks.
The Queen inspected the locomotive, which has been restored by enthusiasts, when she opened heritage centre in 1987. The loco blows out a huge plume of steam before pulling away.
14:16 To a fanfare from buglers of the Royal Marines, the royal party walks down the gangway to be met by heralds in the traditional tabards which were, in centuries long past, worn over suits of armour. They get onto the launch of the Royal Yacht Britannia and set off. The pageant is underway.
14:12 The Queen arrives at Chelsea Pier to much cheering. She’s wearing white, and Prince Philip is in the uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet.
The Queen smiles broadly as she speaks to a couple of the Chelsea Pensioners. Prince Philip lags behind slightly to chat to a member of the guard of honour. The Queen chats to Charles and Camilla as she waits for him to catch up.
14:10 Number 10, meanwhile, has executed another U-turn. The Downing Street street party has been held indoors. Among those attending were Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary. “It’s the perfect summer’s day,” he said.
14:03 Prince Charles and Camilla are inspecting a guard of Chelsea Pensioners as they walk down Chelsea Pier. Since his appearance this morning at the Piccadilly street party, Prince Charles has changed into Navy Admiral’s ceremonial day dress uniform, while the Duchess is wearing an Anna Valentine coat and dress and a hat by Philip Treacy.
The 22 Chelsea Pensioners meeting the Queen were led by Simon Bate, 55, the adjutant The event was very different to the Silver Jubilee celebrations of 1977, which he saw as a second lieutenant in the British Army of the Rhine, he said.
“Several of us have had the honour of being invested by her for awards through our military service,” said Mr Bate. “Others have been on parade for the Silver and Golden jubilees. This is really the people’s day. It is fantastic to see all the crowds here.”
The Duke of Cambridge has also arrived, in his RAF uniform, with the Duchess of Cambridge, in a red skirt and jacket with matching hat. They, and Prince Harry, got a resounding cheer.
Clutching a small red bag and Strathearn tartan scarf, the Duchess paused to accept a bunch of white roses and heather from five-year-old Henry Moffat.
The little boy, accompanied by his parents Andrew and Charlotte and younger brother William, 1, had been waiting three hours for the royal arrival. Mr Moffat, from Chelsea, said: “She asked Henry who chose the flowers. He told her it was daddy not mummy. She asked how long we’d been here - it’s been about three hours but it’s been amazing, the weather has been great because it hasn’t rained.”
Pointing to his younger son, he added: “We told her this is another William. She giggled and said ’You’re cute’.”
13:53 Rowing boats gather on the Thames
13:51 We’re minutes away from the start of the pageant. At 2.05pm, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are due to arrive at Cadogan Pier. Five minutes later, the Queen will arrive at Chelsea Pier, where the Spirit of Chartwell awaits.
13:49 Piccadilly is often crowded, but rarely this crowded. Here’s a shot of the street party where Charles and Camilla sat down to enjoy a sausage roll and a bit of Battenburg cake (possibly).
13:43 Passengers have blasted rail operators for failing to put on enough trains to get spectators into London comfortably today. Services into the capital were packed and many carriages were so overcrowded that some passengers were unable to get on.
Many disgruntled travellers complained on Twitter that a normal Sunday service appeared to be running, even though thousands of people were pouring into London for the River Pageant.
Emma Bradley posted: “SW Trains really should have thought this through. Children literally crying ‘cos can’t get on the train at Norbiton, New Malden etc.”
Kris Temple said: “A Jubilee mare from SW Trains - normal Sunday service, standing room only,” and Jeremy Bellamy, a Conservative councillor from Canterbury, said: “Amazed thatSouth Eastern trains seem to have been taken by surprise by the Jubilee weekend.”
Other rail operators drawing flak were London Midland, Greater Anglia and First Capital Connect.
13:39 Anti-monarchy protesters at Tower Bridge have been met with boos and renditions of the national anthem from sections of the crowd.
“The whole country isn’t in love with the monarchy,” said Graham Smith, chief executive of the campaign group Republic. “It’s a minority interest. We’ll keep going until the monarchy is abolished.
“We’re opposed to celebrating hereditary privilege and power. The message is to the millions of people who oppose the monarchy that there is a movement you can support.”
13:33 This needs a good picture caption...
“Where’s one’s Big Lunch?”
13:30 It’s the Queen! And, wait for it, a Coronation Chicken. Barmy. Completely bonkers. And quite wonderful too...
13:11 A word on the weather from Ian Gilbert, 61, of Shepperton, Surrey, and skipper of the Dunkirk little ship Papillon. “Nothing gets us down. Regrettably we’re used to this kind of weather. It’s what doing anything outdoors in the UK is all about.”
His wife Karina, 58, said: “We’re a resilient bunch. It’s going to be a real privilege to take part and I’m really looking forward to it.”
13:09 In the flotilla will be 39 of the “little ships” which assisted in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Led by MTB 102, a 74-year-old motor torpedo boat, they will sail behind the royal squadron from Barn Elms to Tower Bridge and beyond.
Aboard will be two Dunkirk veterans, Vic Viner and Harry Kidney. A third veteran, Reg Vine, had been due to take part but had to give the event a miss after a fall at his home.
Although not as eventful as its voyage in 1940, the flagship had a difficult trip from Lowestoft earlier this week when it hit an underwater obstruction off Aldeburgh in Suffolk. It ground to a halt and both engines cut off, leading to fears that the collision may have broken an engine shaft or knocked a blade off the propeller.
The little ships helped the Royal Navy rescue 338,000 troops from the beaches of northern France. Some 500,000 British and French troops were trapped on the coast after falling back in the face of the German advance.
Operation Dynamo, which took place between May 27 and June 4 1940, was described by Winston Churchill as “a miracle of deliverance”.
The boats will finish their journey today at West India Dock in east London.
13:01 Pageant Master Adrian Evans isn’t letting a bit of drizzle bother him. “We in Britain are experts at not letting the weather spoil our fun. The London Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing Singing In The Rain as they travel down the river, and the crowd can sing along with them,” he said.
“We are all set to have one of the most spectacular pieces of river theatre that London, and the world, has ever seen. Excitement is building, and everything is ready.”
13:00 Some numbers, from Santander Insurance. Six million Britons were planning to throw a party this weekend for the Diamond Jubilee. Of those, 12 per cent were to be at home. Partygoers were spending an average of £83 each, amounting nationwide to £424 million worth of food, drink and bunting.
12:57 @sarahbridge10 Trains packed heading into London, empty in the opposite direction. It’s like the opposite of a disaster movie #jubilee
12:52 David Cameron has been collared for an interview by Andrew Marr. What would the United Kingdom have been like if it were a republic?
“Well I think we would have had less stability,” said the Prime Minister. “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.”
Would the Queen ever abdicate in favour of her son or grandson? Mr Cameron thought not. “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.”
12:48 Here’s the latest weather forecast from MeteoGroup. “London will see a lot of cloud today and rain showers throughout the day, although there should be a few bright spells,” says forecaster Matt Dobson. “During the Thames Pageant there could be heavy showers over London with some dry interludes.
“Temperatures may get up to maximums of 15C but that is still quite cool for this time of year. People should definitely take a brolly and a mac if they are going to be out and about celebrating the Jubilee.”
Southern England will see heavy showers with few sunny spells. Temperatures across Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and the North of England will be at a maximum of between 8C and 12C, with rain in places.
In Northern Ireland, Scotland and the far North of England the day will be cool, bright and breezy with sunshine interrupted by scattered showers.
A view from the South Bank: the top of the Gherkin pokes into the low cloud.
12:42 Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, is in a good mood but appears to be in denial on the issue of the weather. “I want you to know the rain has stopped, hasn’t it?” he told the crowd during an interview at Putney Pier.
“It’s going to be a fantastic day, I’ve no doubt about that at all,” he said. “We’re are looking forward very much here in Putney to the kick-off, which I think is in a couple of hours’ time, but already the crowds are enormous here.
“It’s an amazing thing, this is only the second time in the country that a monarch has reigned for 60 years. This is a chance for people to come to London, look at this jubilee pageant and pay tribute to the Queen for 60 years of amazing service to her country.”
12:35 Prince Charles and Camilla get into the swing of a central London street party, where onlookers crowded round to snap pictures of them with their mobile phones. Camilla is patron of the Big Jubilee lunch, which aims to encourage neighbours to come together to share lunch and a few hours of community, friendship and fun.
12:28 Anti-monarchy protesters from the campaign group Republic are holding a “loud, bold and provocative” demonstration during the Pageant, just across the river from the spot where the royal barge will be moored.
“The hereditary system is offensive to all the democratic values this country has fought for in the past. The jubilee represents a celebration of everything we, as republicans, oppose. It is our right, and duty, to challenge it and promote the alternative,” said Graham Smith, chief executive of the campaign group Republic.
“People are sick and tired of being told they must celebrate 60 years of one very privileged, very remote and very uninspiring head of state. The idea that the monarchy’s future is any safer as a result of the jubilee is completely laughable.”
Supporters from around the country have gathered beside City Hall, at Tower Bridge on the south bank. They have been joined by delegates from Sweden’s republican movement.
“We are planning a peaceful protest and many families will be joining us,” said Mr Smith. They will hold placards and banners saying “citizen not subject”, “power to the people” and “democracy not monarchy”. Guest speakers at the event include human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and the columnist Joan Smith.
“Our loud, bold and provocative protest will be a major step forward for the republican movement and an opportunity to kick-start a real debate about the future of the monarchy. The royals spend most of their lives shielded from criticism; this protest will give them a rare glimpse of the strength of republican sentiment in Britain today.”
12:19 The royal barge Gloriana, which will lead the pageant, will be powered by 18 oarsmen. Along with the aforementioned Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent are paralympic athlete Pamela Relph and Corporal Neil Heritage, who lost his legs while serving in Iraq.
Another vessel, the Sapele, will carry winners of the George and Victoria Crosses, including Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry.
12:17 Reserving a seat would appear a bit cheeky, but closer examination of the notice pinned to Mrs Powell’s chair reveals that she is 97.
12:12 On the riverbank at Putney Pier, rowing boats and dragon boats are being launched. In Bristol’s Millennium Square, revellers are about to sit down for a Big Lunch. Below, Erin Martin 6, from Brentry in Bristol, gets into the spirit.
12:10 Leaning out of the windows of the Houses of Parliament appears not to have been an option for senior MPs. David Cameron and his wife, Samantha, are on HMS President, which is moored near Blackfriars Bridge.
Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and George Osborne are watching from the Design Museum, on the bank. Foreign Secretary William Hague will be on the passenger boat Sarpedon.
12:14 Here’s the guest list for the royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell. Accompanying the Queen will be the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, former owner of National Car Parks Sir Donald Gosling, the Queen’s lady-in-waiting Lady Susan Hussey, the monarch’s equerry Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rex, her waterman Christopher Livett, Kamalesh Sharma, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and historian Simon Schama.
12:02 People queue to get into Battersea Park, where the designer Wayne Hemingway has curated a Diamond Jubilee festival celebrating music, food, fashion and art from the past 60 years.
“It’s not raining, what are you on about, it’s beautiful,” Hemingway told Sky News, with one eye on the grey sky. “Look at everybody, they are all lining the banks now, they’re dressed up, there’s a bit of drizzle about but it’s not bothering anybody, we’re British aren’t we?”
The festival features a village green, a 1952 bandstand tea dance and an outdoor cinema. Acts performing include 80s ska group The Selecter and indie rockers Noisettes, while sounds of yesteryear will be provided by all-female swing band The Bombshellettes along with other 40s and 50s-style big bands.
The event will also feature an exhibition of royal souvenirs including 100 royal teapots, a portrait of the Queen made out of balloons and a 1977 Silver Jubilee fizzy drink labelled Jubilade.
12:00 The pageant promises a feast for the ears of aficionados of a wide range of music. Classical pieces, Bollywood anthems, Scottish reels, English folk songs and military marches will be represented on the music barges which punctuate the waterborne procession. A number of specially-commissioned pieces will receive their world premiere.
The final music barge will carry members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir. They will provide the pageant’s finale when they play Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia and the national anthem while the royal party look on from their barge at Tower Bridge.
11:53 Kibworth, Leicestershire. Residents prepare for a street party later today.
11:52 The scene at Wapping, where boats are heading up-river for the start of the pageant. Ships too tall to go under Tower Bridge will moor here.
11:43 The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent will sail on the Havengore. The vessel transported Sir Winston Churchill’s body along the Thames on the day of his state funeral in 1965.
They will be joined by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson and former Prime Minister Sir John Major and his wife Dame Norma Major.
The Princess Royal and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence will travel on Trinity House No.1 Boat, while the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra will be on board the RNLI Diamond Jubilee.
The Duchess of Kent, who does not normally attend royal events, will be on the Henley steam launch - one of the oldest passenger boats in daily service on the Lower Thames.
11:36 The Royal family at Tower Bridge. Oh - hang on....
11:35 Here’s who’s where in the pageant. With the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Royal Barge will be the Prince of Wales, the pageant’s patron, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, will be on the 19th century paddle steamer the Elizabethan, with their other children siblings Pippa and James, along with London 2012 Olympic chief Lord Coe and the BBC’s director-general Mark Thompson. Also on the Elizabethan will be Prince Charles’s former valet Michael Fawcett.
David Cameron and his wife Samantha will watch the pageant from the moored corvette, HMS President, in the City.
11:33 Appropriately, the Olympic rowers Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave are taking part in the River Pageant. They and 16 others will be at the oars of the million pound barge Gloriana.
11:29 Spectators gather at Tower Bridge.
11:26 Jude Sawyer waits at Tower Bridge while her son, Jacob, catches up on some shut-eye.
10:55 Every conceivable vessel will be afloat on the Thames from kayaks, skiffs, Dunkirk little ships and dragon boats to tugs, barges, rowed shallops and passenger vessels. At its head will be a floating belfry with each bell named after a senior member of the royal family.
10:51 Here’s commitment for you: spectators stake out a top spot on the South Bank this morning.
10:40 Here’s the schedule for the day’s events on the Thames.
14.15: The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall board HMY Britannia’s Royal Barge at from Chelsea Pier, followed by Paul Ludwig, the Queen’s Bargemaster. The steam train Princess Elizabeth, located on nearby Chelsea Rail Bridge, will sound her horn.
14.30pm: At Cadogan peier, the Britannia’s barge comes alongside Spirit of Chartwell, the royal barge, and the royal party transfer between the two. The pageant begins.
14.45: The Royal Jubilee Bells begin pealing. The belfry slips her moorings by the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park to take position as the lead vessel in the Pageant. The Man-Powered Section passes beneath Albert Bridge and past the Royal Barge, and will then “toss oars” to salute the Queen.
15.00: The Royal Barge slips her mooring from Cadogan Pier in readiness to join the pageant.
16.00: The first vessel, the belfry carrying the Royal Jubilee Bells, passes under Tower Bridge.
16.00: The bascules of Tower Bridge open in salute. They will remain open until the pageant’s finale.
16.15: The Royal Barge arrives alongside the pier at HMS President, from where the Queen and the royal party will review the flotilla from the Royal Barge.
17.15: The final vessel in the pageant, Symphony, carrying members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir will perform several pieces, including the National Anthem.
17.30: The bascules of Tower Bridge are lowered. The pageant is over, and the flotilla will disperse downriver.
10:35 Small boats wait in fog at Putney.
10:25 Here’s the weather forecast for the capital: it will be a good day for umbrella salesmen.
“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,” says Andy Ratcliff, a forecaster at MeteoGroup.
“We will probably see a high of 11C (51.8F) 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.”
The best weather will be on the south coast, which will remain dry with highs of 18C (64.4F). Scotland will be largely sunny, with some cloud in eastern areas.
Eastern and western parts of the British Isles will have rain, which will be heaviest in Wales and the western Midlands. Northern Ireland will remain cloudy.
10:00 A River Pageant the likes of which has not been seen for more than 300 years takes place on the River Thames today in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Some 1,000 vessels representing every facet of Britain’s long maritime history will join a flotilla from Battersea to Tower Bridge, with at its heart a royal barge carrying the Queen and Prince Philip.
Right now in London, low cloud is skimming the points of the tallest buildings and thick drizzle is falling on the crowds beginning to gather along the river banks. But the classic British summer weather does not appear to have dampened spirits, either on the banks of the Thames or in the hundreds of streets where Jubilee parties are due to take place later today.
Keep abreast of all the day’s events here.