The Diamond Jubilee royal barge Gloriana went on her maiden voyage this afternoon. The 94 foot vessel looked very pretty as she took to the water in Isleworth at high-tide shortly before 3pm. For security reasons, the whole operation was shrouded in secrecy until the last possible moment. Luckily, I live just down the road, so dashed down there. Unfortunately it was wet and rather miserable but several hundred locals turned out to see her off, delivering a damp cheer and a smattering of applause from outside the historic London Apprentice. The sixteen oarsmen – tentatively to begin with – soon got the hang of it and rowed her downriver towards Brentford.
Mike Paterson
I don’t think I’ve ever been so wet in my life, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. She truely is a beauty and makes me proud to call myself British.
Thank you for this.
Brilliant to get such good photos in the wild weather.
Dont forget her little sister Jubilant, returnrd to the water last Saturday after a total repaint over the weekend.
Was the Gloriana built in an industrial unit north of the Great West Road… behind PC World… in Brentford?
I’m not sure if totally Made in Brentford, it’s possible, but certainly she was finished off there (as a TW8 man, I should say here!). Also, I need to look into a story on the telly the past couple of days that she is being moved from her home at St Katharine Docks, which I thought was permanent, but seemingly not.