Prince William and Kate Middleton to join Jubilee procession

The royal couples will be accompanied through the streets of Westminster by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry as they greet the thousands expected to line their route to Buckingham Palace.

It will be the first time William and Kate have taken part in a formal carriage ride since their wedding last year.

The Queen and Duke, travelling in a 1902 state landau, and the other royals will be joined by a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in their breastplates and plumed helmets.

And like last April’s royal wedding, members of the family will then join the Queen and Philip on Buckingham Palace’s famous balcony, but this time they will watch an RAF flypast as they acknowledge the crowds in the Mall on June 5.

Lieutenant Colonel Dan Hughes, the Household Cavalry’s commanding officer, spoke of his pride at his unit being involved in the celebrations during the extended Diamond Jubilee weekend this summer.

He said: “It’s a huge privilege. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into these events. To have this during my tenure is an enormous privilege and an enormous stroke of good fortune.”

The procession will follow a Diamond Jubilee lunch in Westminster Hall where the senior royals will be joined by 700 guests.

Many will be from across the country, whose trade, craft or profession are represented by livery companies from the City taking part in the lunch.

Charities, schools and other organisations supported by the companies will also be invited.

The carriages are expected to travel along Whitehall and the Mall with the way marked by more than 1,000 “street liners” from the three services, joined by military bands.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 60-gun salute from Horse Guards Parade as the royals pass.

The events will be the culmination of the four-day bank holiday weekend which will see the Queen’s 60-year reign marked with a Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3, followed the next day by a concert in front of Buckingham Palace which will feature acts including Stevie Wonder and JLS.

Lt Col Hughes was also involved in William and Kate’s wedding when his mounted troops provided a Captain’s Escort for the newlyweds’ carriage.

The senior officer said: “We will be providing a Sovereign’s Escort of about 120 soldiers, a mounted band of about 60 soldiers and staircase soldiers - dismounted parties - elsewhere.”

Asked if he anticipated any problems, he replied: “I think the phrase ‘don’t work with children or animals’ is certainly very much in our minds when we do something like this.

“Particularly with the size of the crowds. During the royal wedding last year, the size of crowds took us all by surprise. We’re expecting something similar for the Jubilee.”

When the Queen’s carriage reaches Buckingham Palace, soldiers and officers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards will be providing a guard of honour in the forecourt.

They will perform a feu du joie, or fire of joy - a salute of rifles fired in rapid succession up and down a row of troops - as the monarch appears on the balcony.

Earlier that day, the Queen and Philip and the majority of the Royal Family will attend a St Paul’s Cathedral service of thanksgiving to celebrate the 60-year reign.

Dr David Ison, the Dean of St Paul’s, will conduct the service while the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will give the sermon and a special prayer for the Diamond Jubilee will be read.

The state trumpeters of the Household Cavalry, the Band of the Welsh Guards, and the RAF Fanfare trumpeters will all perform during the service.

Afterwards the monarch and her husband will be guests at a short reception at Mansion House while members of the Royal Family attend a similar event at Guildhall, with both engagements featuring those who took part in the service and members of the congregation.

The senior royals will then be driven to Westminster Hall for the special lunch before joining the carriage procession.