Hampshire at the centre of Thames Jubilee pageant

One million spectators are set to line the river to watch a 1,000 boat tribute to Britain's maritime heritage in spectacular scenes not witnessed for more than 350 years.

Ten types of boats from the past and present, of all sizes, including a procession of Dunkirk ‘little ships’, steam boats, tugs and even passenger ships, will pass under all 13 central London river crossings from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge.

More than 100 ships too tall to pass under the bridges will be moored by Tower Bridge, forming a mile-long Avenue of Sail.

The Queen, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other royal family members at her side, will be on the royal barge the Spirit of Chartwell as she sails along the Thames.

Jubilee Bells will mark official start of pageant at 2.40pm.

Among the Queen’s escort as she sails the Thames will be Sea Cadets from Romsey in part of a team of 55 Sea Cadet boats from all over the country, each carrying a flag to represent a Commonwealth nation.

The cream of our sailors trained at Fareham-based HMS Collingwood will greet the royal party on to the ship HMS President where they will watch the spectacle unfold.

With its towering 135ft mast, Southampton-based Tenacious will be one of the largest ships moored just past Tower Bridge.

Run by the charity The Jubilee sailing Trust, which has helped more than 40,000 disabled and able-bodied people to sail side by side as equals, it has seen people paralysed from the neck down navigate it and those who have lost legs pull themselves up its mast.

Heroic war veteran Allan Beer, from Southampton, who was part of the Arctic convoy on HMS Belfast and later part of D-Day, will wear his uniform and medals with pride as he hails Her Majesty from the great ship.

The crew of Arctic Challenge England’s beautiful Bantry Bag gig Intégrité, based on the Beaulieu River at Buckler’s Hard, will be among the first wave of ships leading Her Majesty.

The organisation uses the historic vessel to give people of all ages the chance to experience sailing a traditional boat.

Record-breaking disabled sailor Geoff Holt, in his powerboat Wetwheels, will sail with children from Hampshire’s Naomi House hospice on board. Geoff, who was paralysed from the chest down after a swimming accident, became the first quadriplegic to sail solo around the UK.

Netley Sea Scouts will row the Thames in their boat Sir Harry, and volunteer Calshot RNLI lifeboat crew member Mark Weatherhead will be onboard a charity lifeboat to ensure that people are safe.