The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant is one of the biggest live events to ever take place in London. It has taken two years to plan and is costing £10.5m of private money. That sum does not include the cost of policing which falls to the taxpayer but Lord Salisbury, who chairs the team that organised the pageant, is promising 'a hell of a show ... to thank the Queen for 60 years' hard labour'.

Expect to see lots of red, white and blue on bridges and buildings along the river bank and hear church bells, fireworks, music and foghorns. Hundreds of boats from all over the UK will move at a gentle speed of four knots down seven miles of river escorting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh aboard the Royal Barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, which will be richly decorated in red, gold and purple. Boats that are too tall to travel under bridges will be moored at St Katherine Docks and along a mile-long stretch from London Bridge to Wapping known as the Avenue of Sail. The bascules of Tower Bridge will be raised in salute.
Safety and security is paramount - 5,500 police and 7,000 stewards will be on duty. About 30,000 people have been security checked. All bridges and riverside roads will be closed to traffic although Lambeth, Westminster and Blackfriars bridges will be open to the public. There are expected to be about one million spectators on the river banks, and millions watching live TV coverage. Transport for London is urging the public to leave t.