The diamond jubilee river pageant will see a 'transformation of the River Thames'

A spectacular flotilla reflecting Britain's maritime heritage has been assembled to celebrate the Queen's 60-year reign, organisers of the Thames diamond jubilee pageant announced.

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In pictures: Diamond jubilee pageant promises a Thames spectacular

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The 1,000-boat tribute will feature vessels from down the centuries on the River Thames, a seven-mile long procession of Dunkirk little ships, historic vessels, steam boats and tugs, rowed shallops and Dutch barges and passenger ships.

Pageant master Adrian Evans told MSN: "It is proving extremely popular. It is after all the really new thing that is happening this diamond jubilee. The concerts and the state procession have all happened before, they are regular features of our ceremonial life, but a pageant on the Thames really is new and it's exciting a lot of interest.

"We are expecting people in their millions to converge on London, but we occupy a huge frontage. The bigger route is 15 miles of Thames so there is a lot of space to accommodate a lot of people."

It was also announced that the Prince of Wales will be the pageant's patron and have a key role when the event is staged during the extended diamond jubilee weekend in June. Mr Evans also said that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been involved in planning for the pageant.

Mr Evans said: "I wrote a one-page conceptualisation on a side of A4 almost two years ago, which went to the palace and I was told the Queen and the Duke had read it and thought it was a good and worthy way of celebrating the diamond jubilee.

"Since then we've had regular meetings at the Palace to keep Queen and Duke fully informed of what we are proposing."

The pageant will take place on Sunday June 3, and journey down river from Putney to Tower Bridge. It will travel under 14 bridges, feature 20,000 people on the water and take 90 minutes to pass any given point.

Mr Evans added that anywhere along the planned route will be a good place to watch the pageant. He said: "I think anywhere on the Thames will be fantastic, whether it is on the bridges or whether it's on the river bank edges.

"What you will not want to miss is the atmosphere of the day, that is going to be truly unique - it's not just a piece of history it really is a transformation of the Thames."

The pageant, which will cost around £10 million, is being funded by donations and sponsorship with Sainsbury's being the first major corporate partner.

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In pictures: Diamond jubilee pageant promises a Thames spectacular

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