A spectacular million-pound row barge built to mark the Queen's 60-year reign has been launched on the River Thames.

The 94-foot vessel, decorated with gold leaf and ornately carved, 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 travelling at its heart.

Lord Sterling, who organised public celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, is behind the project which created the barge in honour of the monarch.

"We think it's something special, but that's for others to judge, really," he said.

"No one's really built anything like this for 200 years and the way we've built it, it will last for 200 years if looked after."

The peer said the idea for the barge came from the Prince of Wales's wish to have a waterborne tribute to the Queen, and it features wood from sweet chestnut trees grown on his private estate.

The vessel brought traffic to a standstill in west London on Thursday as it was moved from an industrial unit in Brentford to the Thames at Isleworth during the early morning.