Uploaded May 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
On Sunday 3rd June 2012, over one thousand boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty The Queen to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
.It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. Rowed boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Flags, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs. The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services will be afloat and there will be an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note.
The flotilla will be bolstered with passenger boats carrying flag-waving members of the public placed centre stage (or rather mid-river) in this floating celebration of Her Majesty's 60 year reign. The spectacle will be further enhanced with music barges and boats spouting geysers. Moreover, there will be specially constructed elements such as a floating belfry, its chiming bells answered by those from riverbank churches.
One of the boats taking part has come all the way from Canada, via RAF Bryce Norton. The Canada One/Un Canoe was flown into the airbase at the weekend and is now waiting for its crew to dip it into the Thames.
So how does it feel to be a part of history? In this video James Raffan, one of those who will be on board Canada One, reveals his thoughts ahead of the big day and also makes a bold offer to the Queen!
On Sunday 3rd June 2012, over one thousand boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty The Queen to take part in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
.It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. Rowed boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Flags, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs. The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services will be afloat and there will be an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note.
The flotilla will be bolstered with passenger boats carrying flag-waving members of the public placed centre stage (or rather mid-river) in this floating celebration of Her Majesty's 60 year reign. The spectacle will be further enhanced with music barges and boats spouting geysers. Moreover, there will be specially constructed elements such as a floating belfry, its chiming bells answered by those from riverbank churches.
One of the boats taking part has come all the way from Canada, via RAF Bryce Norton. The Canada One/Un Canoe was flown into the airbase at the weekend and is now waiting for its crew to dip it into the Thames.
So how does it feel to be a part of history? In this video James Raffan, one of those who will be on board Canada One, reveals his thoughts ahead of the big day and also makes a bold offer to the Queen!
