The Queen's diamond jubilee parties and pageant in pictures

The Queen arrives at Chelsea pier to board the special royal barge to lead the 1,000-boat flotilla down the river Thames to mark her diamond jubilee Photograph: Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

A group of spectators in matching rainwear stay cheerful despite the rain as they await the start of the river pageant near Tower bridge Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Thousands of revellers line the embankment near Blackfriars bridge Photograph: Chris Furlong/DP/Getty Images

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attend the Big Jubilee Lunch in Piccadilly Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Paula Wright with sons Mitchell, Harrison and Charlie celebrate the diamond jubilee at the Kibworth Regatta street party in Leicestershire, where the Coach & Horses pub has been turned into a ship for the occasion Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

A woman with union flag-painted nails and other patriotic accoutrements waits in the rain for the start of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Luke Macgregor/Reuters

A woman armed with a mask of the Queen enjoys the Big Jubilee Lunch in Piccadilly Photograph: Bogdan Maran/EPA

A fan of the Queen waits in the rain to catch the diamond jubilee river pageant at Tower bridge Photograph: TAL COHEN/EPA

Some young people arrive early, braving the rain, to secure their position near Blackfriars bridge Photograph: Chris Furlong/DP/Getty Images

People flock to the banks of the Thames close to Chelsea bridge in anticipation of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

Pageant spectators arrive early, braving the rain, to secure their position near Blackfriars bridge in front of a banner depicting the royal family Photograph: Chris Furlong/DP/Getty Images

Spectators wait for the start of the pageant along the river Thames Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

A woman wearing union flag leggings is reflected in a puddle at Battersea park, where people queued to get into a jubilee party on the route of the river pageant Photograph: John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images

A police officer looks out over the river Thames from Tower bridge ahead of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Two young women sporting tricoloured lipstick and matching sequinned bows huddle under a union flag umbrella ahead of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Olivia Harris/Reuters

Revellers wearing masks of members of the royal family gather near Tower bridge ahead of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

Crowds of revellers gather on Tower bridge and along the banks of the river Thames to book their spot to watch the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

People celebrating the diamond jubilee gather beside the river Thames near the Shard to claim a spot to watch the river pageant Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Spectators wait for the start of the diamond jubilee pageant along the river Thames Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

Janet Mead smiles in her home-made 'crown' as she waits for the start of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Two women dressed up as the Queen and a "coronation chicken" promenade next to the river ahead of the diamond jubilee pageant Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

The Savoy hotel on the Strand gears up for its diamond jubilee street party, complete with musicians and corgis Photograph: Neil Mockford/FilmMagic

Sue Ridley, all togged up in union flag accessories, waits on Westminster bridge for the royal barge to pass the House of Commons Photograph: Tim Hales/AP

A woman claims her place and waits on Westminster bridge for the royal river procession Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Three women wait beneath a union flag umbrella in the rain near Tower bridge Photograph: Tal Cohen/EPA

Revellers hide from rain under union flag umbrellas as they wait at the South Bank on the route of the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images

Spectators gather near Tower bridge to claim their places to watch the diamond jubilee river pageant Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Suitably attired revellers queue to enter a jubilee party in Battersea park Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

More revellers queue to enter a jubilee party in Battersea park Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Spectators walk down a union flag-festooned Mall in central London Photograph: Olivia Harris/Reuters