Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh visit Gloriana, the new Royal Row Barge for the first time, at Greenland Pier on the Thames in London's Docklands. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 25, 2012. The 94-foot vessel, decorated with gold leaf and ornately carved, harks back 200 years to when kings and queens travelled by water in opulent style. It will be one of the star attractions in this summer's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant - a 1,000-strong flotilla of boats with the Queen and the Duke travelling at its heart. See PA story ROYAL Queen. Photo credit should read: Jamie Wiseman/PA Wire

The Queen began a day of visits to Docklands and Greenwich by naming a Royal barge at a rain-hit and windy Greenland Pier.

The Queen arrives at Greenland Pier as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. April 25, 2012: Picture by Carmen Valino

The Monarch, accompanied by Prince Philip, arrived mid-morning today (Wednesday) at the Southwark venue where she officially named the gold plated boat Gloriana.

The barge, whose construction was commissioned by Lord Sterling, will be a lead vessel in the Queen’s Jubilee Pageant.

All 24 of the Queen’s Royal Watermen were also present at the visit, including Sean Collins, managing director of Thames Clippers, the ferry company which owns the pier.

The Queen went on board the barge, which is built to be rowed by 18 people and can carry a maximum of 52 people.

She then went to the stern to name the boat before being presented with a commemorative silver gift by Lord Sterling who said to her: “That’s as much as we can do in this inclement weather.

“I didn’t think you would turn up,” he joked.

Stuart Roy, one of the architects for the barge, was introduced to the Queen. He said: “I’m not sure she knew what to expect as this is the first barge of its kind to be built since the 1800s.”

Following the pageant, Gloriana will be used by a range of charities. It will be based in Richmond.

The construction of the barge, which is made almost entirely of wood and is decorated with 23.5 carat golf leaf, took around seven months.

The Queen was then due to visit the newly reopened Cutty Sark in Greenwich.