Mission accomplished: After 70 days and 8,000 miles, the Olympic torch sweeps up the Thames on last leg of its great British journey ... and it won't be seen again until the opening ceremony tonight
- The torch began its final leg in London at 6.55am at Bushey Park and was carried through Hampton Court Palace
- It was then carried on to the royal barge Gloriana by Olympic gold-medal winning rower Matthew Pinsent
- Olympians young and old took it in turns to row the flame downstream to Tower Bridge
- A mini flotilla of 50 boats accompanied the flame as it made the final leg of its epic 8,000 mile journey
- It will be carried into the Stratford stadium in east London this evening and lit by a mystery VIP
By EMILY ALLEN
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The Olympic torch has completed the final leg of its epic 8,000 mile journey across Great Britain sailing triumphantly along the River Thames on board the Queen's majestic Jubilee barge.
The torch boarded the row barge Gloriana shortly before 8am for its journey to Tower Bridge, ahead of its final appearance at the Stratford stadium this evening where the flame will be lit by a mystery VIP at the hotly anticipated Opening Ceremony.
Thousands of people lined the river bank to watch the historic moment and catch a glimpse of the famous torch which has snaked its way through the UK and been seen by millions of excited fans over the past 70 days.
Flotilla organiser Malcolm Knight, a director of Thames Alive, declared 'mission accomplished' on his loudspeaker as the boats arrived at Tower Bridge.
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Mission accomplished: The Olympic torch arrives at Tower Bridge and the final torch bearer Amber Charles holds it proudly on a floating pontoon
Landmarks: The Gloriana arrives at Tower Bridge, left, where it is seen through the Olympic rings hanging from it and right, the flame passes Big Ben and Parliament
End is in sight: The flotilla makes its way past the historic Tower of London just minutes away from completing the journey along the Thames
Back on dry land, he said: 'It was marvellous, absolutely marvellous. The whole thing went fantastically, there were boats everywhere and the banks were lined with thousands of people. The master plan worked, which is wonderful - the torchbearers, the crews and the crowds all played their part.
'It's a great way to bring the flame into central London, using the highway of London.'
He said he was always confident the weather would hold up, adding: 'It doesn't rain on my parade - and it was never going to be as cold as the Jubilee pageant.' A total of 400 rowers took part on 90 boats.
The torch arrived by boat at City Hall, where it was going inside for a reception with London Mayor Boris Johnson, Lord Coe and other dignitaries.
It docked close to Tower Bridge, which has been adorned for the Games with its own set of Olympic Rings.
It docked close to Tower Bridge, which has been adorned for the Games with its own set of Olympic Rings.
Mr Johnson, speaking outside, said that around four-and-a-half million people had seen the torch in London.
'It's a life-changing thing, I haven't seen anything like it in my life,' he said. 'I hope we put on a good show and the whole world goes away impressed.'
Excitement: Throngs of people line the River Thames as the Gloriana sails past carrying the Olympic flame on the final leg if its journey through London
Majestic: The Gloriana makes headway as it powers down the Thames. The barge was painstakingly built by 60 craftsmen over the course of four years
Amazing: London looks magnificent with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the background as the mini flotilla makes its way through the capital
People power: Rowers young and old, including two men in their 90s who took part in the 1948 Games, are taking it in turns to man the oars on board the Gloriana
Sailing away: A close-up view of the flotilla as it passes under one of London's bridges accompanied. The flame can be seen glowing in a special cauldron onboard
Support: Spectators sip Champagne and wear glasses shaped like the Olympic rings for the occasion while Union Jack memorabilia is out in force again
On the water: Rowers make their way down the River Thames to Tower Bridge and the rain is managing to stay away despite the overcast weather
Also welcoming the torch was Alexandros Loukos, 19, from Newham, east London, who carried the flame in Greece at the very start of the torch relay.
He said he was glad the Games were about to start.
He said he was glad the Games were about to start.
'It's been awesome, I don't think anyone was expecting the crowds to be as big as they have been,' he said.
The last land-based torch bearer was four-time Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent, who carried the flame from Hampton Court Palace on to the £1million vessel, last seen during the rain-soaked Queen's Diamond Jubilee pageant in June.
Pinsent held the flame aloft before lighting a ceremonial cauldron on board, applauded by the crowds who gathered to watch the moment - including some who stood knee-deep in the water to catch a glimpse of the flame.
He told Sky News: 'It's a very special summer, and for the Gloriana to be part of the Jubilee and then this, is great.'
Patriotic: Huge crowds line the river bank and some squeeze into small rowing boats on board to catch a glimpse of the historic moment
Flamin' good: Akosua Scantlebury, 25, from Bow in London, who was nominated for her work with youth clubs, holds the Olympic flame on board the vessel
Waiting game: Dozens of spectators stand knee-deep in the water poised with their cameras waiting for the Olympic barge Gloriana to meander down the River Thames
Rowers young and old, ranging from members of London Youth Rowing to two men in their 90s who took part in the 1948 Games, took it in turns to man the oars of the Gloriana. Gold medal-winning rowers from recent Games, including James Cracknell, Jonny Searle and Martin Cross, were among them.
The Gloriana, accompanied by its mini flotilla of boats, was given three cheers from those watching on the banks before it set off. Each boat chosen to take part in the flotilla reflected apart of London's waterborne heritage.
Seven young torchbearers on board carried the flame for approximately eight minutes each as the procession made its way to Tower Bridge.
However, before taking to the river, the torch completed the last of its journey on land early this morning.
It's off! The Olympic torch leaves Hampton Court Palace in west London on the £1million royal rowbarge Gloriana powered by 16 oarsmen
Don't get in a flap: Even the geese are pleased to see the Gloriana as they accompany the vessel on its journey along the River Thames
Flashback: The scene on the River Thames this morning looks almost identical to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant - including the grey rain-filled clouds
Awe-inspiring: A triumphant torch bearer carries the flame on the Gloriana as 16 oarsmen power the boat along the river
Pride: The mini flotilla makes its way along the River Thames towards Tower Bridge watched by thousands of people in the bridge taking in the special moment
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN...
7am: The Olympic flame was carried through Hampton Court Palace.
7.30am: The flame boarded the royal rowbarge Gloriana, on which a ceremonial cauldron was lit as the vessel sailed along the River Thames.
12.45pm: Gloriana arrives at Tower Bridge, where the flame will remain at City Hall before the last leg of its journey towards the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.
4pm: The doors open at the BT London Live Opening Ceremony Celebration Concert in Hyde Park. Snow Patrol, Stereophonics, Duran Duran and Paolo Nutini will perform for tens of thousands of revellers. There is also a music and sports event at Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets.
4.15pm: The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will host a reception for around 100 heads of state and heads of government. US First Lady Michelle Obama will be among the guests at the Buckingham Palace event.
5pm: The first spectators will file into the Olympic Stadium ahead of film director Danny Boyle's £27 million opening ceremony.
9pm: The show gets under way in front of an audience of about 62,000 in the stadium and one billion people watching worldwide. The flame will be used to light the cauldron in the Olympic Park to mark the official opening of the Games. Meanwhile, the countdown clock in Trafalgar Square will reach zero at 9pm.
12am: The opening ceremony will conclude between midnight and 12.30am with a performance by Sir Paul McCartney.
The first torchbearer was Rosie Hynes, 18, from Manchester, who is part of the Great Britain under 20s basketball squad, who carried it in Bushey Park at 6.55am.
Nine torchbearers then ran in relay through the grounds of Hampton Court, including around its famous hedge maze.
Today's last torchbearer was Amber Charles, 22, from Newham, east London, who delivered London's Olympic bid to members of the International Olympic Committee in 2004.
Details for how the torch will leave City Hall and be conveyed to the Olympic Stadium have not been released.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be there, among international royalty and 120 world leaders. First Lady Michelle Obama will head the US delegation with her children.
The celebrity A-list will include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Olympic gold medal winner and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, James Bond star Daniel Craig and Sir Paul McCartney.
The identity of the person who will light the cauldron is a closely guarded secret – but those who could play a role include five-time rowing gold medallist Steve Redgrave, decathlete Daley Thompson, David Beckham, double gold winner Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to break the four minute barrier for running a mile.
Yesterday, sports greats and much loved stars such as Sir Bruce Forsyth and comedian David Walliams also carried the torch and drew massive crowds as London began to swell with millions of visitors soaking up the Olympics atmosphere.
In scenes that echoed the euphoria surrounding the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, hordes filled the streets to be part of the historic milestone.
Few among the crowds would have been able to recall the last time the Olympic flame came to Britain – but Florence Rowe could.
In 1948, she was an anonymous teenager in the throng. Yesterday, the 81-year-old fulfilled a lifelong ambition as she carried the torch out of Downing Street, cheered on by Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha.
She was handed the flame by a representative of a new era for the nation – Kate Nesbitt, the first woman in the Royal Navy to be awarded the Military Cross, given in recognition of her courage in administering emergency treatment to injured colleagues under gun fire in Afghanistan.
Locog chairman Sebastian Coe said: 'Support for the torchbearers has been immense with over 13 million people lining the streets across the UK to cheer them on.
'Thank you to each and every person for giving the Olympic Flame such a magnificent welcome and celebrating the best of the UK with us.
Historic moment: The royal barge drifts along the river carrying the famous Olympic flame. The barge was built especially for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations
All aboard: The last land-based torch bearer was four-time Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent, who carried the flame on to the royal rowbarge
THE 94FT LONG ROYAL BARGE WHICH TOOK FOUR YEARS TO BUILD
It's 94ft long, decorated with gold leaf and ornate hand carvings and worth £1 million.
The Gloriana was the royal row barge which famously led a 1,000 strong flotilla along the Thames to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The barge, which was rowed by 18 leading oarsmen including former Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave, was just in front of the Spirit of Chartwell, which carried the Queen and other members of the royal family along the river on June 3 to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign.
Gloriana was designed to resemble vessels in Canaletto's famous painting of an 18th century river pageant. It was funded by Lord Sterling and is the first Royal barge to be built for a century.
It was painstakingly put together over four years by 60 craftsmen and incorporates sweet chestnut wood taken from the Duchy of Cornwall estate
Downstream: The Gloriana was accompanied by its mini flotilla of boats and was given three cheers from those watching on the banks before it set off
'Together we have given the London 2012 Games the best possible start and we are delighted to have seven inspiring young people carrying the flame on the last leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.'
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: 'The torch relay has been absolutely fantastic. The enthusiasm and support showed by millions of people up and down this country has been overwhelming. It has showcased the very best of Britain.'
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'From Wandsworth to Enfield and Bromley to Harrow, over three million Londoners have lined the streets of the capital to cheer on the flame and our inspirational torchbearers.
Blaze of glory: Four-time Olympic gold medalist Matthew Pinsent holds the flame aloft before lighting a ceremonial cauldron on board the Gloriana
Moment to shine: Olympic Gold medallist rower Matthew Pinsent, boards the Gloriana with the famous flame and right stands in front of the Great Gate at the palace holding the flame. He was the last land based torchbearer before the flame took to the Thames for its journey east through the capital
Today's first torchbearer was Rosie Hynes, 18, from Manchester, who is part of the Great Britain under 20s basketball squad, who carried it in Bushey Park at 6.55am
'As excitement builds to a crescendo ahead of what promises to be a glorious Opening Ceremony, London is poised and ready for a fantastic Games.'
The torch was lit in Greece's ancient Olympia on May 10 and since then has been carried by the great and good.
Previously unsung local heroes were recognised for their charitable work and for overcoming great adversity and given the honour of carrying the torch.
Lights fantastic: A dazzling firework show illuminates the Olympic stadium and Anish Kapoor's sculpture Orbit , during rehearsals in Stratford, East London
Jubilation: Florence Rowe, 81, who saw the Olympics in London in 1948, is cheered by the Camerons as she carries the flame in Downing Street yesterday
Open flame: The Olympic Torch is carried on top of an open top bus down Oxford Street as it nears the end of its 70 day journey
The London Olympic Torch Bus slowly makes its way through the crowds along Oxford Street as thousands attend to see it on its way to Hyde Park
Meeting royalty: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry watch Wai-Ming hand over the London 2012 Olympic Torch to John Hulse at Buckingham Palace
Video: Big Ben rings out across London marking the launch of the London 2012 Olympics
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