Cheering crowds greeted the Queen as she travelled through the heart of the capital at the head of her majestic 1,000-strong Diamond Jubilee flotilla.

Surrounded by her family the Queen acknowledged the well wishes of thousands who had flocked to the River Thames to witness the once in a lifetime spectacle.

Bridges and embankments were filled with spectators while others found vantage spots in offices blocks, all desperate to catch a glimpse of the myriad of boats, ships and tugs passing by.

The Queen received an outpouring of good wishes from those who had braved cold and wet conditions to see her and the water-borne celebration of her 60-year reign.

It weas expected that up to a million people would line the Thames to watch the pageant.

The Queen was jioned on the royal barge by the Duke of Ediburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Camridge, Prince Harry, Price Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Duchess of Cambridge took to the Thames today in a red Alexander McQueen dress and matching Sylvia Fletcher hat.

Kate, whose wedding gown was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, looked striking in the fitted bright red ensemble.

Her hat was by Sylvia Fletcher from James Lock & Co.

Fletcher designed the Duchess's distinctive red maple leaf hat worn on her tour of Canada last summer.

The Duke of Cambridge wore his Flight Lieutenant No 1 Dress Uniform complete with blue garter sash, while his brother Prince Harry, a Captain in the British Army, was wearing the No 1 Ceremonial dress of the Blues and Royals and Army Air Corps light blue beret.

After travelling for around seven miles though the capital the royal barge moored just past Tower Bridge just as predicted heavy showers began to fall.

The Queen was now able to watch the spectacle of the flotilla, that had been travelling behind her, for herself - the narrow boats, tugs, Dunkirk little ships, pleasure cruisers and steam boats.

Moored nearby was HMS President, a navy corvette now used for public functions, where Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha were also watching the ships pass-by.

The belfry carrying The Royal Jubilee Bells was the first vessell through, followed by the million-pound row barge Gloriana led by Olympic gold medallists Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave, rowing with 16 others.

A 41 gun salute was fired from the Tower of London to celebrate the Queen's 60 years on the throne while thousands of people cheered on the banks of the River Thames despite the wet weather.

The bascules of Tower Bridge opened for the arrival of the royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, as the Royal Family prepared to take their places on HMS President to watch the rest of the seven mile-long flotilla making its way down the Thames.

The Queen watched from HMS President as the procession of boats and ships continued to pass under Tower Bridge.

The pageant achieved a new world record for the largest parade of boats - surpassing the previous record of 327 boats in Bremerhaven, Germany, last year, Guinness World Records said.

The record was announced as 419 boats reached the bridge, with up to 1,000 vessels expected to complete the pageant.