Queen Elizabeth II joined by spectacular 1,000-boat flotilla for Diamond Jubilee celebration
The River Thames in London was a spectacular sight on Sunday with an extravaganza of steam boats, tugs, speed boats and historic vessels as part of festivities for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen joined the armada of 1,000 boats in a gilded royal barge as revelers braved the rainy weather to help celebrate the occasion by waving flags, popping bottles of champagne and cheering.
The 86-year-old queen celebrates her 60th anniversary since taking the throne in 1952. She is the second-longest serving monarch. According to Reuters, only five other kings and queens in British history have reigned for 50 years or more: Victoria (63 years), George III (59 years), Henry III (56 years), Edward III (50 years), and James VI of Scotland (James I of England) (58 years).
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is greeted by Chelsea Pensioners as she arrives at Chelsea Pier on the River Thames, in London June 3, 2012. (Bethany Clarke/Reuters)
- Queen Elizabeth II walks down the gangway to her launch on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Harry Engels/Getty Images)
- Rowboats participate in the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth joins an armada of 1,000 boats in a gilded royal barge on Sunday in a spectacular highlight of four days of nationwide celebrations to mark her 60th year on the throne. (Kevin Coombs/Reuters)
- Queen Elizabeth II travels in the royal barge ‘The Spirit of Chartwell’ during the Diamond Jubilee River Thames pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
- Police constables Tracey Blair (L) and Clare Beesley pose for a photograph with Union flags near Tower Bridge in London June 3, 2012. (Eddie Keogh/Reuters)
- Samantha Malcolm waves a Union Flag as she waits with her friend Mike Reakes in the rain for the start of the river pageant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in London June 3, 2012. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters)
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth waves from the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on the River Thames, in London June 3, 2012. (John Stillwell/Reuters)
- A tugboat pushing a barge bearing bells leads the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Boats of all shapes and sizes muster on the River Thames, in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, near Putney Bridge in London June 3, 2012. (Kevin Coombs/Reuters)
- Rowing boats take part in the Diamond Jubilee River Thames pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
- Abseilers secure a giant canvas along the River Thames of a photograph showing Britain’s Royal Family during the 1977 Silver Jubilee, London May 25, 2012. Queen Elizabeth marks her Diamond Jubilee by travelling in a 1,000-boat regatta on the river on June 3. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth speaks to her husband Prince Philip on the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on the River Thames, in London June 3, 2012. (John Stillwell/Reuters)
- Members and guests of the royal family travel on The Spirit of Chartwell along the Thames during the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry onboard the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
- Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge onboard the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
- The Royal barge, The Spirit of Chartwell, carrying Queen Elizabeth II passes in front of St Paul’s Cathedral during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
- Revelers line the route during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
- A boy wears a mask portraying Britain’s Queen Elizabeth while waiting near Tower Bridge for the start during the Diamond Jubilee river Pageant in London on June 3, 2012. (Dylan Martinez/AFP/Getty Images)
- Boats of all shapes and sizes take part in a pageant in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, along the River Thames in London June 3, 2012. (Andrew Winning/Reuters)
- Spectators wave Britain’s Union flags during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London on June 3, 2012. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)
- A woman dances with a Union Jack Flag in her mouth during a street party to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in Marple Bridge, northern England June 3, 2012. (Phil Noble/Reuters)
- A woman waves Britain’s Union flag while watching the Thames Jubilee Pageant in London, on June 3, 2012. (Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images)
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth watches from onboard the Spirit of Chartwell with (L-R) Prince Harry, Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during her Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London June 3, 2012. (Darren Staples/Reuters)
- Britain’s Queen Elizabeth waves from onboard the Spirit of Chartwell, as it approaches Westminster Bridge during her Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London June 3, 2012. (Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)
- A dog dressed in a Union Jack necktie for the occassion on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
- Army guards fire canons during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London June 3, 2012. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
- The Royal barge ‘Spirit of Chartwell’ passes the London Eye during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
- A memeber of Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band, Plymouth performs during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/WPA Pool /Getty Images)
- Garrison Sergeant Major Bill Mott shouts three cheers for the Queen as the Royal flotilla passes during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in London June 3, 2012. (Sergeant Steven Hughes/MoD/Crown Copyright/handout/Reuters)
- Members of Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band, Plymouth play in the pouring rain during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
- A member of Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band, Plymouth plays in the pouring rain during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/WPA Pool /Getty Images)
- Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (L) and Sophie, Countess of Wessex (2L) react to a musical performance aboard the boat ‘Havengore’ as it approaches Tower Bridge during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the River Thames in central London on June 3, 2012. (Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)
- Spectators stand on Waterloo Bridge over the Thames while watching the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee in the rain on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Spectators painted in the British flag stand on Waterloo Bridge over the Thames during the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- A spectator on Westminster Bridge watches the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
- Crowds watch the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant from their balconies at Butlers Wharf next to Tower Bridge on June 3, 2012 in London. (Owen Humphreys/AFP/Getty Image)
- Revelers line the route during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood /WPA Pool/Getty Images)
- The boat Gloriana leads rowboats in the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- The boat Gloriana leads rowboats in the River Pageant of the Diamond Jubilee on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Revelers on Embankment take up vantage points hours in advance of the River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
- Members of the public enjoying the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Adam Jacobs/Getty Images)
- Revelers on Embankment take up vantage points hours in advance of the River Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
- Revelers brave the rain, with champagne, to watch the Royal Pageant pass Blackfriars Bridge on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
- Fireworks are fired from Tower Bridge during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant along the River Thames on June 3, 2012 in London, England. (Owen Humphreys/ WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Crowds brave rain for Queen Elizabeth’s giant jubilee armada
Mike Collett-White and Michael Holden
Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth joined a spectacular armada of 1,000 vessels on Sunday for the most dazzling display of British pageantry seen on London’s River Thames for 350 years, watched by cheering crowds celebrating her 60th year on the throne.
Pealing bells greeted the flotilla as the queen’s gilded royal barge sailed alongside a colorful and eclectic array of boats from leisure cruisers and yachts to a Hawaiian war canoe and Venetian gondolas.
Typically inclement British weather failed to dampen enthusiasm, with hundreds of thousands of onlookers, waving “Union Jack” flags, massed on the riverbanks to catch a glimpse of the procession along the seven mile (11 km route).
Donating time for a great time, by Leanne « Leanne Forshaw Jones
Jun 06, 2012 @ 05:50:39
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