Post date: Jun 03, 2012 1:30:33 PM
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 3, 2012) (BBC) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will lead an armada of 1,000 boats in a gilded royal barge down London's River Thames on Sunday (June 3) in a spectacular highlight of four days of nationwide celebrations to mark her 60th year on the throne.
The "Spirit of Chartwell" barge prepares for the Royal Family before it begins its journey across the River Thames on a showcase pageant to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
Hundreds of thousands of people armed with "Union Jack" flags and wearing red, white and blue clothes and hats, poured into the capital from early morning, braving wind and rain to line the 7-mile (11 km) route of one of the largest flotillas ever seen on the river.
Up and down the country, millions more were due to attend diamond jubilee street parties over the long holiday weekend in honour of the 86-year-old queen, the only British monarch after Queen Victoria to have sat on the throne for 60 years.
Organisers say Sunday's pageant will be the largest of its kind in 350 years since a similar spectacle was held for King Charles II and his consort Catherine of Braganza in 1662.
A floating belfry with a set of eight church bells specially cast for the celebrations will be at the head, with bells from riverbank churches pealing out as it passes by.
The queen will be on board "The Spirit of Chartwell" barge with her 90-year-old husband Prince Philip and other members of the royal family including heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, his eldest son Prince William and new wife Kate.