June 3rd, 2012
10:21 AM ET

Live blog: Queen's Diamond Jubilee, June 3

Welcome to CNN's live blog of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee! Follow along here while you watch on CNN, where Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin anchor our coverage. To get things started, you can read a little about what to expect from today's festivities. Check back often for pictures and videos, iReports, facts and trivia and more. Also, you'll find tweets from our anchors and reporters – and you! Use the hashtag #JubileeCNN and tell us what you think.

And we'll end with this – thank you all for joining the live blog, and watching CNN's coverage. And we'll see you back on CNN TV, and here, at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday.


[1:06 p.m. ET, 6:06 p.m. local time]: "Your majesty, thank you for 60 great years," says Morgan.

[1:01 p.m. ET, 6:01 p.m. local time]: "God Save The Queen" from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and RCM Chamber Choir – in torrential rain.

[12:55 p.m. ET, 5:55 p.m. local time]: The London Philharmonic is playing and singing from atop a barge, in very difficult conditions – and doing it extremely well. 'You will never see anything like this!' says Piers Morgan.



[12:54 p.m. ET, 5:54 p.m. local time]: Watching from everywhere!

[12:51 p.m. ET, 5:51 p.m. local time]: "This was the biggest street party the world has ever imagined," says Becky Anderson in Piccadilly Circus.

[12:49 p.m. ET, 5:49 p.m. local time]: "Welcome back to London, or the Mediterranean Ocean as we've renamed it," says Morgan.

[12:45 p.m. ET, 5:45 p.m. local time]: "Freezing cold, torrential rain," says Morgan, while he reports the fly-by will have to be canceled.



[12:42 p.m. ET, 5:42 p.m. local time]: The grand finale may have to be canceled due to weather, reports Morgan.

[12:37 p.m. ET, 5:37 p.m. local time]: The incredible moment from earlier when the Royal barge did a complete 360-degree turn:



[12:32 p.m. ET, 5:32 p.m. local time]: "She believes in duty," says Dickie Arbiter. "She believes in doing the job until her last breath."

[12:29 p.m. ET, 5:29 p.m. local time]: "How many of us re-dedicate ourselves on anything, six decades [later]?" says Richard Quest of the Queen's pledge. Now the guests are discussing duty.

[12:26 p.m. ET, 5:26 p.m. local time]: We've updated the gallery at the top with the latest images from today's flotilla festivities.

[12:23 p.m. ET, 5:23 p.m. local time]: "She can put everything into global perspective," says Piers Morgan.

[12:20 p.m. ET, 5:20 p.m. local time]: "She's never passed a political judgment," says Katie Nicholl of the Queen.

[12:13 p.m. ET, 5:13 p.m. local time]: Earlier today: the Queen rides to the flotilla:



[12:09 p.m. ET, 5:09 p.m. local time]: Max Foster is by Tower Bridge: "This is British spirit for you!" he says as people are singing in the rain, watching the boats.


[12:06 p.m. ET, 5:06 p.m. local time]: Send us your favorite moments from our coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee today!

[12:01 p.m. ET, 5:01 p.m. local time]: Now we're seeing Zain Verjee live on the River Thames, using the Flotilla Cam. Verjee describes a bit of a traffic jam now.


[11:53 a.m. ET, 4:53 p.m. local time]: Here's some of the Royal flotilla from earlier today:


[11:48 a.m. ET, 4:48 p.m. local time]: "Deference is still alive and well," says Philippa Gregory, royal historian.

[11:46 a.m. ET, 4:46 p.m. local time]: What's your favorite part of the Diamond Jubilee so far?


[11:43 a.m. ET, 4:43 p.m. local time]: "The river, for the modern age, is a great neglected stage," says Pieter van der Merwe, general editor and Greenwich curator of the National Maritime Museum. Explaining the reason for the flotilla today now.


Despite the rain, people camped out overnight last night. Here's a look:

[11:39 a.m. ET, 4:39 p.m. local time]: Richard Quest's picture from the CNN studio location near Tower Bridge:


Christiane Amanpour is watching:

[11:36 a.m. ET, 4:36 p.m. local time]: The rain theme has continued. It is now really pouring in London:


[11:33 a.m. ET, 4:33 p.m. local time]: "Typical summer day," says Piers Morgan about the current weather, although he also says it's currently "about as bad as it gets."

[11:31 a.m. ET, 4:31 p.m. local time]: Watch: Earlier today, William and Kate arrive at the Thames:

[11:29 a.m. ET, 4:29 p.m. local time]: Part of the reason the Royal barge turned was so the Queen can watch the rest of the flotilla herself, says Katie Nicholl.

[11:24 a.m. ET, 4:24 p.m. local time]: "This is one of those lifetime moments I don't think I'll ever forget," says Piers Morgan. The Royal barge is now turning 360 degrees.

[11:20 a.m. ET, 4:20 p.m. local time]: Tower Bridge is opening now as the Royal Barge is approaching. Amazing, rare event.


[11:19 a.m. ET, 4:19 p.m. local time]: And on the other hand... Here's a CNN Opinion about why the U.K. monarchy should be abolished.
But:

[11:16 a.m. ET, 4:16 p.m. local time]: Of the Queen's reign, Arbiter says, "She doesn't change, she adapts."

[11:12 a.m. ET, 4:12 p.m. local time]: India Hicks, a bridesmaid for Princess Diana, is being interviewed live now on CNN.

[11:10 a.m. ET, 4:10 p.m. local time]: "She hasn't seen this many boats in any one place since 1953," says Dickie Arbiter, former Buckingham Palace spokesman, who calls the event "overwhelming."

[11:07 a.m. ET, 4:07 p.m. local time]: Prince Harry, Prince Williams and Kate Middleton being shown now.

[11:05 a.m. ET, 4:05 p.m. local time]: While we take a quick break on TV, check out the Queen's Crown Jewels.

[11:03 a.m. ET, 4:03 p.m. local time]: "Eight bells specially cast for today," says Richard Quest. First time this has ever been done.

[11:02 a.m. ET, 4:02 p.m. local time]: "Any second now" says Richard Quest we will see the Queen and the royal family.

[10:59 a.m. ET, 3:59 p.m. local time]: The Queen is on CNN now. The flotilla is about to pass by the CNN studio location as well.

[10:55 a.m. ET, 3:55 p.m. local time]: How many U.S. presidents has the Queen met? Check it out.

[10:53 a.m. ET, 3:53 p.m. local time]: Piers Morgan weighs in on the weather, which has become a major topic already.


(And we'll keep including your tweets!)

[10:50 a.m. ET, 3:50 p.m. local time]: Zain Verjee is live, on a boat. We've broken out the Flotilla Cam for this. Strong winds, and "you're basically on your own" says Verjee.

[10:48 a.m. ET, 3:48 p.m. local time]: Becky Anderson is live from the "biggest street party."

[10:45 a.m. ET, 3:45 p.m. local time]: Brooke Baldwin and Piers Morgan are live from Tower Bridge. "An extraordinary explosion of patriotic glee," says Morgan. Richard Quest joining the broadcast now.

[10:42 a.m. ET, 3:42 p.m. local time]: Share your thoughts with us all day.

[10:38 a.m. ET, 3:38 p.m. local time]: Watch: Bells ring as the pageant begins:

[10:30 a.m. ET, 3:30 p.m. local time]: Gearing up for CNN's broadcast, now just 15 minutes away!



[10:20 a.m. ET, 3:20 p.m. local time]: Want to learn about the Royal family tree? Who were the Queen's parents and who are her children? Check out this helpful infographic.
Here's another picture from EP Janelle Rodriguez in the control room:

Piers and Brooke get ready.

[10:15 a.m. ET, 3:15 p.m. local time]: While we await the start of CNN's coverage, watch co-anchor Piers Morgan tell viewers what to expect today:


Meanwhile, here's Piers and others gearing up for the festivities on Twitter:

Our Executive Producer today, Janelle Rodriguez:

CNNI anchor and correspondent Max Foster:

And your tweets will be embedded in the live blog too, using #JubileeCNN:

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Filed under: Diamond Jubilee • United Kingdom • World
soundoff (29 Responses)
  1. Lyle from Georgia

    If Piers Morgan could have kept his mouth shut during the playing of "God Save the Queen" and other selections by the London Philharmonic, we would have enjoyed the Grand Finale much more. He was so busy yelling, "Isn't this amazing?" that we could barely hear what he was so amazed about. VERY disappointed.

    June 3, 2012 at 1:24 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    The superbly admirable reign of Queen Elizabeth II is one of the best aspects of our period in history.

    June 3, 2012 at 1:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • ♚Mmmmmâ™›

      eyesay...june fourth is the day...when thee ole queenie girl is recuperating from 'er drinkin' binge...would luv t'see the hangover pictures in newsweek...hip hip hurray...!

      June 3, 2012 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Denise Madden

    Piers Morgan should be ashamed of calling Princess Diana "fractuous" and implying that she hurt the monarchy. First of all, she's dead with no one to defend her (cheap shot) and second, why wasn't Charles considered "fractuous" for having a Mistress prior to and all through their marriage? She was a brave woman who should be remembered in positive terms only, especially since her cunning arch rival is now undeservedly given royal status.

    June 3, 2012 at 2:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • ♚Mmmmmâ™›

      interesting that you bring that up...britain is long standing in history where crown grants royal status to its female adulterers...who can count the number of whorish bones laying under that throne...it is the basis for the creation of the angelican church...sins of the flesh abounds in that faith...

      June 3, 2012 at 3:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • ♚Mmmmmâ™›

      on the flipside our united states political leaders will never legitmitize their scandulous actions...they just throw yah a55 inna closet and denied they ever knew you...im waiting for the day when one will say "yeah, i diddit and the sh!t felt good!"...if only their publists could say those words...tabloids would go out of business...

      June 3, 2012 at 3:25 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Claude

    I watched the 4 hour event live on BBC, and I found their coverage educational, historical, and very informative. I recorded it on CNN, and watched it after the live BBC coverage was over. I found CNN's Morgan's repeated (and useless) complaining of the rain tiresome and frankly detracting from the event. Why did BBC know the flyover was canceled before CNN went on the air? Why did CNN witch away from the event to interview common people saying the same thing over and over and over? God save the Queen and God save BBC. CNN is as intelligent as Obama giving the Queen an IPod with his speeches loaded on it.

    June 3, 2012 at 3:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • calchick

      Unfortunately, I didn't watch the BBC coverage, but I did watch CNN's & I agree that the BBC always has it right. Thank God I'm not the only one who noticed Piers blathering on and on and on about the "horrendous" rain and the "terrible" weather. Gee, doesn't it rain a lot in Great Britain, or has Piers forgotten? The rain didn't seem to dampen people's spirits; possibly because they are used to it. I think Piers does his show from L.A. if I'm not mistaken, so perhaps the constant sun has fried his brains & made him overly sensitive to the weather?? I'm from Southern California(a native), so I know of what I speak when I talk about the constant(yuk)sun. Was actually refreshing to see the rain and see people still smiling...not whining(unlike Piers!)

      June 4, 2012 at 6:13 am | Report abuse |
  5. Claude

    I might add Morgan kept insisting the event took place starting when CNN's coverage started (11 am EST), not two hours earlier. He marveled after an hour of the broadcast that the Queen "has been standing for an hour now". What a moron!

    June 3, 2012 at 3:17 pm | Report abuse |
  6. james ainoris

    I find it quite strange how any advanced people could still admire remminants of middle age divine right monarchy.... the evil commited in the past by such meglomanics is self evident and undeniable ...as an irishman I could only think of Monty Pytons cast showing up to polish off such a silly event... The best englishmen ended up in america or australia.. sadly the people of england are suffering from high unemployment and taxes while these spoiled silly people float on a boat counting their gold and jewels....antisemitism is rampid in england again and suppose they want to blame innocent people for the failures of their own leaders again.. Ii hope Ireland and Scotland can someday purchase a bankrupt england and makes a theme park out of it. Just think You will keep these royal families employed at least.....These people had more slave camps in the world than anyone. What they did to the Irish and Jews who tried to escape holocaust to Israel is terrible and G-d will not forget it... James ainoris

    June 3, 2012 at 8:02 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Dan

    BOOO CNN! I watched coverage live on BBC Sunday morning and loved it so much I wanted to see more, so tuned in to the CNN re-broadcast. HORIBBLE! Every 3 minutes the broadcast was interrupted with 3 minutes of commercial, over and over, for the entire 2 hours. No Joke! It was extremely abusive. You gutted the spectacle. BBC's coverage was outstanding. You should be ashamed!

    June 4, 2012 at 2:12 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Abby

    Disgusting

    June 4, 2012 at 3:28 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Tennessee Tim

    What's the point of all this pomp?

    June 4, 2012 at 3:30 pm | Report abuse |
  10. jozo

    What was the meaning of the pyramid shape smoke stack with the crystal on top in the smoke during the Royal Jubilee seen on CNN Monday June 4th

    June 5, 2012 at 9:42 am | Report abuse |
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