THIS IS THE YEAR QUEEN ELIZABETH II CELEBRATES HER 60TH YEAR IN THE THRONE AND IN 5 YEARS SHE WILL BE THE LONGEST REIGNING QUEEN IN ALL HISTORY, FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO TODAY. SO FAR THE RECORD IS HELD BY HER GREAT GRANDMOTHER QUEEN VICTORIA WHO REIGNED FOR OVER 63 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS SO EVEN IF QUEEN ELIZABETH II REACHES 63 YEARS AND 7 MONTHS AND 1 DAY, SHE WILL OFFICIALLY ENTER HISTORY AS THE LONGEST REIGNING FEMALE MONARCH EVER IN RECORDED HISTORY!
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
There will be countless celebrations by her loyal subjects (except presumably the illegal immigrants who entered Britain to make money and send it back to their homelands to fund terrorist attacks on UK) in countless ways but one of the most spectacular will be the much awaited Royal Barge Procession down the river Thames.
The Royal Barge, refitted from the existing Spirit of Chartwell, will sail past Tower Bridge, London's iconic symbol and lead the 1,000 strong flotilla which will be the greatest and biggest ever in history, dwarfing Cleopatra's famous barge procession
The Royal Barge will flaunt the royal banners and trappings of the Royal House of Windsor and the royal colours of red, gold and purple in a lavish display of pageantry unprecedented in modern times.
A barge fit for a Queen!
Yes, similar to what Cleopatra did as she sailed down into the mouth of the Nile to greet Mark Antony and impress the Roman lord with the magnificence of her barge. Then, Cleopatra had women dressed as mermaids with tails attached while trumpeteers and musicians played as heavy perfume floated behind and ahead of her procession.
Cleopatra, master of theatrics, was reposing on a golden couch behind translucent curtains. As Mark Anthony's small boat drew near for him to alight aboard her barge, she dramatically pulled the curtains aside and walked towards him in full glory, laden with jewels, her crown sparkling, her tresses shining and skin silkened with precious oils. Little bells tinkled from her anklets as she floated towards him as hand maidens prostrated.
The splendour of her boat left Mark Anthony, on a mission to admonish her for her misdeeds and machinations, speechless and awe-struck.
His general Planecus whispered to Mark Anthony, "What is the accusation you were supposed to make against her?"
Grinned the smitten Anthony, "What accusation?"
Smiled Cleoptara as she bowed low as Mark Anthony, after all, was her overlord. "I am honoured to have you as my dinner guest, Dionysus."
She called him Dionysus for good reason and not just meaningless flattery. Dionysus was the god of wine, winemaking, grape harvest, ritual madness, frenzied possession and ecstasy. Even more appropriately, his name means 'the foreign god that comes' and this surely described Mark Anthony who was from faraway Italy and this subtle suggestion would not be lost on the savvy general. Cleopatra's honeyed compliment was to prove prophetic as their scandalous love affair (he was a married man) filled with trance-inducing drama was to prove fatal for both.
The gallant Mark Anthony, not to be outdone, kissed her hand and replied courteously, "Thank you for your hospitality, Venus or is it more correct for me to address you as Aphrodite?"
Bantered the Egyptian queen of sensuality, "I will leave it to you to decide if I am the Roman Goddess of Love or the Greek Goddess of Love."
"You must know I have a weakness for all things Greek," replied Anthony, now fatally slain by Cleopatra's charm.
Whispered Cleopatra, "Marcus Antonius, you are charming me when I should be the one charming you. You are making me lose my reputation!"
Murmured the member of the Trriumvirate, "Your reputation is safe with me."
Replied Cleopatra in a flash that captured Anthony's heart forever, "I hope it does not remain too safe!" With that she hooked his arm and led him inside her chambe
However, Her Britannic Majesty will not be sailing up the Thames to greet her lover at anytime soon so her procession, though guaranteed to be the most magnificent flotilla in the last 2,000 years as her barge will be accompanied by a staggering 1,000 ships, schooners, boats, yachts and sailboats, will be more decorous and sedate.
There will be music, singing, chanting and shouts of 'Long Live the Queen!' by adoring subjects lining the river banks. Beer, champagne, wine and alcohol will be consumed but it is doubtful there will be drunken, frenzied dances and decadent bacchanalian debauchery.
REVEALED: THE ROYAL BARGE FOR THE THAMES DIAMOND JUBILEE PAGEANT
Vision to be seen to be believed; the Royal Barge sailing past Tower Bridge followed by a flotilla of a 1,000 schooners and sail boats!
On Sunday 3rd June 2012, The Spirit of Chartwell will be transformed beyond recognition into the Royal Barge, carrying The Queen and the Royal Family in the Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in celebration of her sixty year reign. The Pageant, one of this year’s most exciting events, is unprecedented as the largest flotilla to be assembled on the river in modern times.
Accommodating The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family, the first sight of the Royal Barge on the Thames will be one of the most highly anticipated moments of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Operated by the Magna Carta Steamship company, The Spirit of Chartwell , a luxury Thames river vessel with opulent interiors, will be the most important boat on the Thames and will lead the flotilla.
She was chosen for a host of reasons, including size, comfort, safety and manoeuvrability, and consultation took place with a wide number of partners, including the Port of London Authority. Her owner, Philip Morrell, has generously donated the use of the vessel to The Queen for the Pageant. After the event, The Spirit of Chartwell will resume her role as a cruising vessel on the Thames.
The cruiser will be decorated with an original design by Joseph Bennett and Rachel de Thame. Multi-award-winning production designer Bennett’s diverse and distinguished career has included designing films, including Charlotte Gray and Jude, and television, including HBO series Rome, for which he won two Emmy awards. He has also designed commercials, working with photographers such as Steven Klein and Mario Testino and designing celebrated catwalk presentations for the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. The design will echo the richly-decorated royal barges of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, reflecting the great historical nature of this event.
The Royal Barge will be adorned with flowers from The Queen’s own gardens by renowned horticulturist, garden designer and TV presenter Rachel de Thame. A member of the Gardeners’ World presenting team since 1999, de Thame also presents Countrywise on ITV and the BBC coverage of the major RHS gardening shows, including The Chelsea Flower Show.
Red, gold and purple – the royal colours - will feature most prominently in the floral arrangements, which will reference the Commonwealth, the Coronation and The Queen’s Gold State Coach. Adrian Evans, Pageant Master, 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 creating something that is distinct and modern.”
The Spirit of Chartwell’s owner, Philip Morrell, said: “As The Spirit of Chartwell evolved, I knew we had built something special – ideal, I thought, for the carriage of royalty, but little did I even vaguely suspect that in the course of one short year that we should be graced with such an honour”.
Other royal vessels to play key roles in the Pageant
A number of vessels with royal connections will play prominent roles in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, including the tender of HMS Britannia – known as Britannia’s Royal Barge - which was traditionally used to transport passengers to and from the Royal Yacht. In the Pageant, the tender will play her original role, carrying The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to The Royal Barge, along with two motorboat escorts.
The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant is being organised by the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation. The Chairman is Lord Salisbury, who – as Viscount Cranborne – organised the D-Day, VE Day and VJ Day 50th anniversary events. The CEO is Michael Lockett, who has worked on the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony, the Millennium project and London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. He was awarded the CVO for his work on the Golden Jubilee concerts at Buckingham Palace.
The Spirit of Chartwell was inspired by the Rene Lalique 1929 Pullman railway carriage ‘Cote d’Azur’. Some original pieces from this railway carriage can be found on board. There are also original fixtures and fittings from some ocean liners like the Union Castles – Windsor Castle & Kenya Castle - the SS France and MS Sneafel.
The Port of London Authority (PLA) is the organisation responsible for navigational safety on the tidal Thames.
If you happen to be in London this summer, make sure you stake your place to wave and salute Queen Elizabeth II and watch the greatest flotilla ever assembled in history, bigger and grander than Cleopatra though the air will not be perfumed with incense nor will mermaids cavort in the waters by the barge.
THE END
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