Live Coverage of the Jubilee Floatilla

Welcome to Historic UK’s LIVE coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant! Coverage starts here from 1pm on Sunday 2nd June, and will continue throughout the afternoon. You can also keep up to date with our live stream via Twitter; simply click here or search for @historicuk.

On the day itself we’ll be posting pictures, text updates, as well as some real time updates on the best places along the Thames to watch the floatilla. The event starts at Battersa Bridge just before 2.30pm, and should be passing us at about 3:30pm (British Summer Time for our international visitors – for international timings please scroll down).

Soon after the parade passes us, the Queen will be disembarking from her vessel to watch the rest of the floatilla pass. At this point we’ll be packing up and running down to the old Docklands to watch (and of course broadcast) the ships disperse around East India Dock.

Our live streaming has now finished

However, here are some links to articles giving some background to the Diamond Jubilee:

Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, 1953

The Year That Was… 1953

Kings and Queens of England & Britain

…and here are some interesting facts about the Pageant:

1. The main tourist route passes starts at Battersea Bridge in West London and finishes at Tower Bridge in the City, a total length of around 7 miles.
2. The full route is even longer at almost 14 miles, and this includes the mustering and disperal areas.
3. When the floatilla hits any one point, it will take a staggering 75 minutes for the entirety of the boats to pass.
4. The floatilla will be the largest fleet of ships assembled on the Thames in over 350 years.
5. Ships taking part in the pagaent will range from rowing boats, canal boats, steamers, barges, motor boats, canoes and sailing ships… to name just a few!
6. Vessels from all around the world will be taking part, from as far afield as New Zealand and Hawaii.
7. There will be a total of 10 musical barges with an orchestra playing James Bond as it passes Vauxhall Cross (the home of MI6).
8. There will be around 40 big screens covering the event around Central London.
9. The last vessel in the parade will be carrying the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and will pass under Tower bridge at 5:30pm BST.
10. More than one million people are expected to line the Thames on the big day, although the weather is forecast to be heavy rain!