Flotilla Marks Queen’s 60th Year on Throne

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth ii, along with her family, stood on the deck of the royal barge on Sunday to review a flotilla organized to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee—the 60th anniversary of her reign.

The Queen was greeted by a cheering sea of red, white and blue as 1.25 million spectators lined the bridges and river banks of the River Thames in London, undaunted by persistent rain.

The 670-strong flotilla presented to the Queen is believed to be the most spectacular such pageant in over 300 years, and is not expected to be repeated in decades.

A boat carrying eight specially-cast Jubilee bells led the floating procession, with church bells along the river bank answering as the vessels passed by.

The flotilla also included a collection of small ships that were used to rescue stranded troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in World War ii.

To the puzzlement of foreigners, much of the world is still fascinated with this royal family. About 2 billion people watched the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton last April. And millions around the world are celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with similar pageantry.

To understand the underlying reason why this royal family continues to intrigue so many people, read our article “The Most Inspiring Part of the Royal Wedding.”