In pictures: River Thames flotilla

3 June 2012 Last updated at 15:44

In pictures: River Thames flotilla

Diamond Jubilee picture galleries

Thousands of people are lining the Thames in London for the Jubilee river pageant despite wet weather.

Among the 1,000 boats in the flotilla, 265 are man-powered, 48 working vessels, such as fishing boats, and 60 are recreational vessels.

The nautical parade, marking 60 years of her reign, promises to be the most spectacular in London for 350 years.

A collection of small ships used to rescue stranded troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 are taking part, led by the Motor Torpedo boat 102, the flagship of the officer who co-ordinated the evacuation.

Vessels have to stick to a pre-arranged formation, keeping a boat's length apart from those in front of and behind them, because "if one boat starts to veer, they all will", said pageant co-ordinator Ian Welsh.

Rowing boats are leading the way and saluted the Queen by raising their oars in the air as they passed.

More than 188 rowing boats have populated the River Thames in Her Majesty's honour.

Cutters, Cornish pilot and racing gigs, skiffs, longboats, gondolas, lifeboats, kayaks, dragon boats and shallops - elegant pleasure barges used for transporting dignitaries in the 17th and 18th centuries - form the flotilla.