Royal Watch News

Royal barge to carry Olympic torch

Jul 6, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Queen Elizabeth

The Olympic torch's final journey will be made on board Queen Elizabeth's rowbarge Gloriana.

The £1 million craft - which was part of the Diamond Jubilee pageant last month in a crew led by Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent - will transport the flame down the river Thames from Hampton Court Palace to Tower Bridge on July 27.

The flame will then be taken from the Tower to the Olympic stadium for the opening ceremony of the Games.

Though the exact details of the 70-day torch relay's final journey remain under wraps,it is believed Gloriana will be accompanied by a flotilla of historic craft on its five-hour journey.

At last weekend's Henley Regatta, Gloriana was rowed by 18 former Olympic oarsmen and it is believed they will be the ones used for the torch procession.

An Olympic insider told the Evening Standard newspaper: 'It will be a fantastic sight and a truly wonderful spectacle fitting an historic occasion.'

Confirming the news, a spokesperson for the Olympics said: 'We can confirm that the flame will be travelling down the Thames but we have yet to announce exact details.'

When the torch reaches the Olympic park in Stratford, it will have travelled through 1,000 towns and cities in the UK.