Credit: Eva Zielinska-Millar (Senior Photographer, Royal Collection Trust)
2016 Competition Winner - Taken by Jim Moore at Hampton Court
Credit: Port of London Authority/TW/Ben Fitzpatrick.
GLORIANA, THE QUEEN'S ROWBARGE
Her Majesty The Queen named the Royal Rowbarge Gloriana as a lasting legacy to mark her Diamond Jubilee. Her Majesty has asked that Gloriana be retained by Lord Sterling and the new charitable trust for Gloriana with assistance from Thames Alive and has approved the principle that Gloriana will be used to promote better use of the Thames. This will be achieved through providing opportunities for Royal-supported, and other charities, to play their part in occasions and celebrations upon the Thames, with a particular emphasis on events involving young people.
Gloriana The Queen’s Rowbarge is a lasting legacy of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Her immediate realm is the River Thames and London, but Gloriana also celebrates the Commonwealth, which delivers a truly international dimension to her presence. The crests of 16 Commonwealth countries adorn the outside of the coach.
Gloriana is an inspiration for national pride, a showcase for traditional British boat-building and craftsmanship, and a means of encouraging people, especially young people, to engage with the River Thames and the sport of rowing.
Lord Sterling and the Trustees of The Gloriana Trust are most grateful for the splendid support provided by The Maritime Heritage Trust and in particular by their Chairman, David Morgan, from the early stages of design and construction through to the setting up of The Gloriana Trust.
The Rug Co. have very generously supplied 'Gloriana' with a second Royal rug made of more durable fabrics which we'll be able to have on display more often than the silk handmade original (now kept for The Royal Family only) - thank you!
We had a very successful and enjoyable weekend at the Thames Traditional Boat Festival meeting many friends and fellow lovers of wooden boats. Six wonderful crews took to the oars in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support taking passengers for a row down the iconic Henley Royal Regatta course. Please have a look at the albums of pictures of them hard at work. We're looking forward to more great gatherings on Fawley Meadow in future years - thank you everyone for a wonderful time!
Britain is famous across the world as a country rich in heritage and pageantry, and our strong naval traditions are carried on by a history of sporting success in rowing. This vessel unites these two strengths very neatly in this Jubilee and Olympic year, and I very much look forward to seeing the finished article on the river and joining Steve in the boat.
Christopher Rodrigues CBE, Chairman of the Port of London Authority
