Royal barge for Jubilee pageant to be a true jewel of Thames

The vessel and a 1,000-strong flotilla will recreate scenes not seen on the Thames for centuries during next year’s celebrations.

The Queen and Duke will be seated on the vessel’s top deck in ornate chairs under a gold coloured canopy and be joined by other members of the royal family who have yet to be named.

The cruiser, which is 64 metres long and has a top speed of 11 knots, will have rich red drapes decorating its sides while the bow will display the Queen’s cipher – EIIR – below a crown with ornate golden floral displays around it.

Flowers from the Queen’s gardens will adorn the barge and take as their theme the Commonwealth, the Queen’s 1953 Coronation and the Gold State Coach.

Gardeners’ World horticulturist Rachel de Thame will create the vessel’s floral displays which will feature a red, gold and purple colour scheme.

Pageant master Adrian Evans praised the work of award-winning production designer Joseph Bennett, who is leading the project transforming the Spirit of Chartwell cruiser into the royal barge for next June’s celebrations.

Mr Evans said: “The royal barge must be a jewel – the most magnificent vessel in the flotilla.

“Joseph and Rachel have come up with a truly inspiring design, one that references the coronation, the commonwealth, the gold state coach and all the traditions of royal barges on the Thames, while... distinct and modern.”

The Spirit of Chartwell is a luxury Thames river cruiser that has been donated for the event by her owner, Philip Morrell. She has a luxury interior designed to evoke the grandeur of the 1929 Cote d’Azur Pullman railway carriages.