The elevated spectacle of a slow moving pageantry on the River Thames celebrating the diamond jubilee of the world's preeminent hereditary monarchy promises to captivate the attention of the largest television audience in history. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant will showcase one thousand ships - the biggest collection of boats in 350 years - each of which will take 90 minutes to pass any one spot. Applications from across the Commonwealth were three time overscribed. A million waving and cheering people are expected to line the Thames.
The mustering of boats will cover 30 miles, the procession beginning at Hammersmith and ending at the Tower Bridge. The largest boat will be the 68-metre Royal Barge; the smallest a kayak. Every realm of the Crown Commonwealth will be represented. There will be American whaling boats, a slipper launch from Canada and surfer boats from every state of Australia. Boats will include Amazon used in Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and a motor boat used by Churchill and Eisenhower to review the Anglo-Canadian-American D-Day Allied Forces.
This wonderful river pageantry is the brainchild of HRH Prince Charles, who will fittingly serve as patron of the event. Lord Salisbury, whose great grandfather was Prime Minister of Great Britain during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, is appropriately chairing the organization overlooking it. Incredibly no public funds will be spent - all of it corporate sponsors or private donations from the public.
Perhaps the daftest thing sofar offered on this comes from London's Mayor, Boris Johnson, who opined that it would be an "anticipatory drum roll" for the Olympics, as if our Diamond Queen is merely playing "warm up" for this year's international summer athletes. Good morning, Boris! You may leave your dunce cap at the door.
Very well then - there is only one remaining unanswered question concerning the greatest assemblage of boats in more than three centuries: Which canoe will the republicans be protesting on?
"Very well then - there is only one remaining unanswered question concerning the greatest assemblage of boats in more than three centuries: Which canoe will the republicans be protesting on?"
ReplyDeleteThe one without the paddle.
Yes, gentlemen, because they have to stick out, and if they have paddles, they won't stick out.
ReplyDelete:-)
:-)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for June 3rd to witness this once in a lifetime display, a great way to mark our Diamond queen.
ReplyDeleteWill BBC America be showing this in the US?
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ReplyDelete