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Queen's royal barge 'Gloriana' comes a cropper after colliding with Kew Bridge in high winds (only for the lifeboat to put another hole in it during rescue!)

The rowbarge that led the Queen's flotilla during her Diamond Jubilee has been damaged after it collided with a Thames bridge.

Gloriana's engines failed and it drifted into Kew Bridge, causing 'superficial' damage to the sides of the boat.

It also lost the crown at the front of the £1million vessel and a hole was punctured in its side after a rescue boat hit it during the rescue.

The incoming tide had carried the vessel upstream where it had become wedged under the central span of the bridge.

The Queen's rowbarge Gloriana has been damaged after it crashed into a bridge when its engines failed

The barge was carried into the bridge by the incoming tide after its engines had stopped working

While RNLI crew were discussing the best way to help the barge, it came free and was blown to the other side of the span

Witnesses described seeing a crew from RNLI Chiswick hit the boat.

An RNLI spokesman said while crew were discussing the best way to help the barge, it came free and was blown to the other side of the span.

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Despite the crew's attempts they failed to reach the boat in time to prevent it from getting stuck again.

The crew were then able to recover the boat, but a photographer, who did not want to be identified, told the London Evening Standard how the RNLI boat created a hole in the Gloriana.

The side of the boat was damaged and its wooden 'crown' was knocked off after it became trapped against the side of the bridge

A photographer said the RNLI crew created a hole in the side of the barge during the rescue attempt

An onlooker said the Gloriana's skipper was 'furious' with the RNLI crew after they damaged the boat during the attempted rescue

RNLI Chiswick has said it was important the boat was rescued as the tide was still rising, meaning it could have become even more firmly wedged under the bridge

GLORIANA: THE FIRST ROYAL BARGE TO BE BUILT FOR A CENTURY

The 94ft Royal rowbarge was unique among the vessels which took part in the flotilla to mark last year's Diamond Jubilee in that it was the only one specially commissioned for the event.

Originally it was intended that the Queen or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be on board but Her Majesty travelled along the Thames on the Spirit of Chartwell.

Gloriana was designed to resemble vessels in Canaletto's famous painting of an 18th century river pageant on the Thames. It was rowed by eighteen oarsmen, including Britain's greatest Olympian Sir Steven Redgrave, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Its construction was funded by Lord Sterling and it was the first Royal barge to be built for a century after being painstakingly put together over four years by 60 craftsmen.

He told the paper: 'The [Gloriana] skipper was absolutely furious with the RNLI.'

Lord Sterling, the former P&O chairman who built Gloriana, said the damage was 'quite superficial'.

He told the London Evening Standard that the problem was caused by a new battery-powered unit. 

It is believed there were two crew and two elderly passengers on board when the engine failed.

RNLI spokesman David Clarke said: 'During the recovery the aft platform of the lifeboat came in contact with the port quarter of the casualty causing slight damage and the lifeboat’s aerial suffered minor damage as it maneuvered between the bridge abutment and the Gloriana to keep her from further contact with the stonework.

'It was important that the recovery was carried out quickly as the tide was still rising and Gloriana would have become even more firmly wedged under the bridge causing further damage to its superstructure.'

The 94ft Royal rowbarge was unique among the vessels which took part in the flotilla to mark last year's Diamond Jubilee in that it was the only one specially commissioned for the event.

The rowbarge Gloriana leads the man-powered part of the 1,000-boat flotilla in the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee River Pageant last year

The barge was one of the star attractions in last summer's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Originally it was intended that the Queen or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be on board but Her Majesty travelled along the Thames on the Spirit of Chartwell.

Gloriana was designed to resemble vessels in Canaletto's famous painting of an 18th century river pageant on the Thames. It was rowed by eighteen oarsmen, including Britain's greatest Olympian Sir Steven Redgrave, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Its construction was funded by Lord Sterling and it was the first Royal barge to be built for a century after being painstakingly put together over four years by 60 craftsmen.

The crew managed to free the barge from its position but the rescue attempt caused further damage

RNLI Chiswick attempt to rescue the stricken barge after its engines failed











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