A group of anti-monarchy protesters gather on the banks of the River Thames at City Hall, London, for the Diamond Jubilee river pageant. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/PA Wire

Anti-monarchy protesters hoping to cause a stir at the Thames River Pageant were drowned out by renditions of the national anthem by the crowds.

The supporters of campaign group Republic were also subjected to boos and jeers after gathering on the banks of the Thames near Tower Bridge, ahead of the arrival of the 1,000-strong flotilla led by the Queen.

The protesters waved placards and banners saying “citizen not subject”, “power to the people” and “democracy not monarchy” as they called for the abolition of the monarchy.

But sections of the crowd who had waited for hours in the rain to watch the river pageant were not amused, with some royal supporters singing God Save The Queen.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, said: “We’re opposed to celebrating hereditary privilege and power. The message is to the millions of people who oppose the monarchy that there is a movement you can support.

“The whole country isn’t in love with the monarchy. It’s a minority interest. We’ll keep going until the monarchy is abolished.”