In pictures: Diamond Jubilee river pageant

3 June 2012 Last updated at 12:25

In pictures: Diamond Jubilee river pageant

Diamond Jubilee picture galleries

An estimated one million rain-soaked people packed London to watch the Queen's 1,000-boat Diamond Jubilee pageant weave its way along the River Thames.

The poor weather conditions did not deter the throngs of people aiming to get the best spots to view the flotilla.

Pleasure boats of all shapes and sizes moved into position in readiness for the Queen's arrival.

Boats heading to the muster points sounded their horns and were met with cheers from crowds on the banks.

Thousands lined the route of the nautical parade that marks 60 years of the Queen's reign and promised to be the most spectacular in London for 350 years.

The Thames barrier was lowered to slow the river's flow. Some 20,000 people were expected to be in the boats of the flotilla, which travelled at 4 knots (4.6 mph).

The Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were the first of the Royals to make an appearance, stopping for a brief sit down and a chat with people attending a "Big Lunch" event in central London.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the River Thames to huge cheers from the crowd.

The Queen's dress and matching coat were designed by Angela Kelly and created from white boucle threaded throughout with silk ribbon and embellished with Swarovski crystals.

At 14:20 BST Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh boarded the royal launch and made their way to the royal barge. As she passed under Albert Bridge, a steam train above her sounded its horn.

The Royal Standard was raised on the Spirit of Chartwell to show the Queen was on board. With a red, gold and purple colour scheme, the vessel is designed to echo the richly decorated royal barges of the 17th and 18th Centuries.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the Queen on board.

The barge passed the Houses of Parliament as the weather worsened.

A gun salute was fired from the banks of the Thames as they passed the Tower of London.

Dozens of spectators at Tower Bridge were disappointed as security staff blocked off pathways due to fears of overcrowding, more than an hour before the flotilla was due to arrive.

The man-powered boats, led by the Queen's row barge "Gloriana", were the first to pass HMS Belfast as they headed for the finish line. The Spirit of Chartwell with the royal family aboard passed through a raised Tower Bridge before turning to watch the rest of the flotilla.

The final vessel arrived beside the Queen - that carrying the London Philharmonic Orchestra. They had been playing throughout the seven-mile journey from Hammersmith, and after Rule Britannia, the National Anthem was played - bringing the pageant to an end.