The entire Middleton family joined the Jubilee celebrations on Sunday as a part of the royal squadron. Photo via the Daily Mail.
Pippa and Carole Middleton wave to the crowds. Photo by David Hartley / Rex Features
Pippa and James Middleton. Photo Credit: PAUL ELLIS/AFP/GettyImages
Pippa Middleton waves from the Elizabethan paddle steamer as part of the royal squadron during Sunday’s flotilla. Photo Credit: Mirrorpix
The Middleton family traveled down the River Thames on the Elizabethan Sunday, riding behind the Queen as a part of the royal squadron during the Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
The Middleton family’s invitation by the Queen to take part in the big day caught many by surprise; it suggests recognition by the Queen of the Duchess of Cambridge’s important role within the royal family.
The senior royals traveled down the Thames on the Royal Barge Sunday during the River Pageant.Photo Credit: Splash News.com
Photo Credit: PA
Photo Credit: Reuters
Prince Harry, The Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke of Cambridge wave from the royal barge. Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images.
The Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen. Photo Credit: SplashNews.com
Camilla and Kate have a laugh during the festivities. Photo Credit: AFP/ Getty Images
The weather may have been gloomy and a few of the main events of the celebratory day (like the flypast) cancelled, but that didn’t stop around one million people from lining the Thames on Sunday to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee via the River Pageant.
The nation looked on as around 1,000 boats escorted Queen Elizabeth and the senior members of the royal family down the River Thames; it was a new world record for the number of boats taking part in a parade, according to the Daily Mail.
The Queen was looking regal in a classic ivory dress and a white boucle threaded coat, complete with silk ribbon and crystals.
The Queen. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Prince Charming aka Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, was looking quite stylish in his Flight Lieutenant No 1 Dress Uniform complete with blue garter sash.
The Duke of Cambridge. Photo Credit: UK Press Association
Prince Harry was ever the dashing prince in the No 1 Ceremonial dress of the Blues and Royals and the Army Air Corps light blue beret.
Prince Harry. Photo Credit: AP
The Duchess of Cambridge looked glamorous and sophisticated in a red Alexander McQueencreation— a gorgeous, albeit safe, choice.
The Duchess of Cambridge. Photo Credit:UK Press Association
Michael, Carole, Pippa and James Middleton.Photo Credits: Pippa (WEEN.com); Carole and Michael Middleton (XPOSUREPhotos.com); James Middleton (Royal Gossip); Photo of Elizabethan via thamesdinnercruises.co.uk
The Queen has issued an invitation to the entire Middleton family (Carole, Michael, Pippa and James) to join the Diamond Jubilee pageant on The River Thames, it was revealed recently. The surprise move by the Queen shows just how much Kate means to the royal family.
Though the Middletons won’t be situated on the royal barge, they will travel behind the Queen as part of the royal squadron on the the Elizabethan, a replica 1890s Mississippi paddle steamer.
“Michael and Carole’s inclusion on the Elizabethan has only just emerged and has taken a lot of people by surprise, but the Queen is incredibly supportive of the Duchess and her family,” a source told the Daily Mail.
“Boats travelling in the Royal Squadron are solely reserved for special guests of the Queen, which demonstrates just how far the Middletons have come.”
Prince Charles’s former valet (Michael Fawcett) has been hired to attend to the Middleton family for the day; this is possibly a result of Kate’s close relationship with her new father-in-law.
Who is responsible for the event? “The Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation is organizing the event,” according to thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org. “The team is led by Lord Salisbury, Chairman, Michael Lockett, Chief Executive and Adrian Evans, Pageant Master.”
Cost of the celebration? £10.5million according to the Daily Mail.
Riding the Royal Barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, will be the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Harry; Charles and Camilla; Prince Philip and the Queen. About the ship: “A state-of-the-art cruise boat, specially designed to evoke the opulence of ancient royal maritime traditions,” explains the Daily Telegraph. Photo Credit: PA.
In two weeks and three days the River Thames will host around 1,000 vessels for the upcoming Jubilee Pageant, an elaborate event on a legendary river to celebrate the Queen’s 60 year reign.
It will be the biggest flotilla London has witnessed in 350 years, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, told the Telegraph as details of the Jubilee bank holiday weekend were revealed:
“We will be igniting the excitement of a summer like no other,” Johnson added. “This incredible aquatic pageant will be a kind of Dunkirk, except more successful and more cheerful. There’s going to be skiffs and wherries and schooners and sampans and dhows and dragon boats and just about every kind of vessel you can imagine.”
