Thames flotilla
How to hold a right proper party, Briton-style
With their usual resolve, revelers marked the Queen’s milestone with contagious enthusiasm, even in the rain
It’s been her majesty’s pleasure
The Queen’s radiant smile flooded her face, even as she stood in the rain for hours
A (very wet) view from inside the Thames flotilla
One of the 1,000-plus vessels that took part in the Diamond Jubilee Thames flotilla was a dragon boat from Vancouver, crewed by breast cancer survivors. Abreast From the West endured awful conditions—a cold rain drenched everyone for most of the event—while having to maintain a consistent paddling speed and position in the flotilla. One of the Abreast paddlers was Leanne Jacobsen, who recounts what she and her fellow Canadians saw and experienced while travelling through the heart of London: