05.04.2011

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

The principal public celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be a River Pageant on the Thames on 3 June 2012, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation has announced today (Tuesday, 5 April 2011).

The event is being organised by the team behind the Mayor’s Thames Festival.  The Port of London Authority (PLA) Harbour Master’s team for central London has been working closely on developing plans for the event over the last six months.

“The Queen has historically had very close links with the river, from the 1953 River Pageant which marked her Coronation to the river procession and pageant to mark her Silver Jubilee in 1977.  We are delighted that the Thames will again be the ‘stage’ for this major, national celebration,” said PLA chief executive, Richard Everitt.

The PLA have been heavily involved in initial planning for the event.  Their focus includes planning the safe passage of the cavalcade of vessels from Wandsworth to Tower Bridge and, on the day, ensuring safety of participants afloat and their vessels, keep the route clear of debris  and co-ordinate river traffic.

“This is a busy and complex tidal river,” added PLA’s harbour master (upper), David Phillips.  “The Diamond Jubilee Pageant Master’s aim is to stage the most magnificent spectacle seen on the River Thames since the reign of Charles II and our job as the mariners on the Pageant Master’s team is to ensure that this spectacle is achieved safely.  That is our focus over the next 14 months.”