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The queen travelled down the river on the red-and-gold Spirit ofChartwell amid a water-borne procession of kayaks, steamers andtugs. More than a million spectators lined the banks of the river tocheer the 86-year-old monarch, who is only the second Britishmonarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee, after queen Victoria. Heavy rain cleared for the start of the pageant before returninglater, though it had no effect on the enthusiasm of the cheeringcrowds. However, a planned flypast had to be cancelled because oflow visibility. The river pageant was the main event of four days of celebrationsfor the 60th year of the queen's reign and street parties were heldaround the country. The heir to the throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla droppedin on one street party in Piccadilly in central London and chattedwith residents. The pageant -- the biggest event on the Thames for 350 years --started with the ringing of eight Jubilee bells on a barge andended several hours later when the last boats completed the11-kilometre (seven-mile) journey. The queen, wearing a white hat and a silver and white coat anddress designed by Angela Kelly, was ferried to the barge on thelaunch of the Royal Yacht Britannia, the ship she dearly lovedwhich was decommissioned in 1997. She and her husband Prince Philip travelled at the front of theceremonial barge, frequently waving to the crowds, and laughing andjoking with the other royals. Also on board were Prince William and his wife Catherine, who worea vivid red dress by Alexander McQueen, the same designer whocreated her wedding gown. Spectators lining the banks of the Thames cheered loudly when theroyal barge came into sight. "The atmosphere was brilliant, everyone seemed in a good mood. Thequeen's boat was beautiful, really colourful, and Kate lookedlovely in red," said Barbara Barke, a pensioner from Essex, easternEngland. Behind the queen's barge was massed a flotilla of speedboats,firefighting tugs and historic vessels, including Dunkirk "littleships" that evacuated British forces from continental Europe inWorld War II. "It's glorious. It's a momentous occasion. It makes you proud to bea Brit," said Neil Munn, who works in advertising and watched thepageant with his wife and four daughters from Battersea. "We're here to salute the queen after 60 years' hard work." The armada was led by the belfry barge, then Gloriana, a rowbargecrewed by quadruple Olympic gold medallist Steve Redgrave andinjured servicemen. As the royal barge approached, Tower Bridge opened, lifting itsbascules in its own tribute to the monarch. Several hundred anti-monarchist protesters held a demonstrationalong the route, but they were booed and had their chants drownedout with renditions of "God Save The Queen". The members of the campaign group Republic waved placards declaring"Citizens, not subjects" and "We want a vote, not a boat". But they face an uphill task -- the jubilee celebrations come asthe royal family enjoys its highest support for decades. Nicola Holder, a retired community worker from Devon in southwestEngland, braved the rain and camped out overnight along the Thamesto get a good view of the monarch as she passed by. "I can't think of any other human being who has set an example likeshe has. I think she's been a very wise lady -- as a nation we oweher a huge debt," she told AFP. The jubilee festivities began on Saturday when the queen, a keenhorse racing fan, attended the Epsom Derby. On Monday, a star-studded concert in her honour takes place in theshadow of Buckingham Palace featuring Beatles star Paul McCartney,before a ceremonial parade is held on Tuesday. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Food Sealer Bags , China PP PE Bags for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Plastic Flower Bags.
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