Plans have been unveiled for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations next summer.

To celebrate Her Majesty’s sixty-year reign a flotilla of up to 1,000 boats, assembled from across the UK, Commonwealth and worldwide, will accompany the specially-adapted Royal Barge along the River Thames from Putney Bridge to Canary Wharf, on Sunday 3 June 2012.

Stretching over seven miles, the waterborne procession will take up to an hour an a half to pass under 12 bridges, watched by over a million people lining the banks of the Thames. Roads on the route will be closed.

Vessels with sails too high to pass under London Bridge will line the river from there to Wapping creating an ‘avenue of sail’.

Music, fireworks, waterjets and special effects including a mechanical flame-spitting dragon will add to the spectacle.

The event will be funded by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, a
charity that will feed sponsorship and donation profits into
Commonwealth, youth and education projects.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: ‘I cannot conceive of a more fitting celebration of Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne than a majestic flotilla of vessels, large and small, winding their way along the iconic River Thames and showcasing our proud maritime history.’

Individuals and associations wishing to be part of the flotilla can register their interest and details through the www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org website from today.