A spectacular flotilla reflecting Britain’s maritime heritage has now been assembled to celebrate the Queen’s 60-year reign, organisers of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant announced.

The 1,000-boat tribute will feature vessels from down the centuries on the River Thames, an 11-kilometre-long procession of Dunkirk little ships, historic vessels, steam boats and tugs, rowed shallops, Dutch barges and passenger ships.

It was also announced that the Prince of Wales will be the pageant’s patron and have a key role when the event is staged during the extended Diamond Jubilee weekend in June.

Music is an integral part of the celebrations and pieces commissioned for the event will receive their world premiere on special musical barges.

Classical music, Bollywood anthems, Scottish tunes, English folk songs and military marches are some of the performances that will be staged on the river.

Downton Abbey composer John Lunn was commissioned with nine other film composers to create a new movement using the original titles of Handel’s Water Music for inspiration.

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy has written the words for a new song with music by composer Orlando Gough which will be performed by singers from across the Commonwealth.

Around 3,000 vessels applied to take part in the water-borne celebrations with pageant master Adrian Evans praising the high quality of those who came forward.

He added: “I thank everyone who has responded so enthusiastically to this unique event.

“We have a wonderful collection of vessels, a wide spectrum of every type of craft from humble kayaks to magnificent tall ships, with rowed shallops, oyster smacks, steamers, cutters, cruisers and barges.”

A Battersea Park Jubilee Festival, curated by Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway and artist Clare Patey, will feature a village green, 1952 bandstand tea dance, outdoor cinema and other attractions.

At the centrepiece of the flotilla will be the lavishly decorated royal barge with a red and gold colour scheme.

It will carry the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and other royals who have not been named but are likely to be the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Speaking about Prince Charles’s involvement, a Clarence House spokesman said: “The Prince is very supportive of the whole concept and is very much looking forward to it.

“He’s taking an interest in it and will be playing an important role on the day.”

The pageant will take place on Sunday June 3, and journey down river from Putney to Tower Bridge.

It will travel under 14 bridges, feature 20,000 people on the water and take 90 minutes to pass any given point.

Millions of spectators are expected to line the river banks and fill London’s public spaces and it is likely to be watched by an estimated global television audience of hundreds of millions.

The flotilla will be divided into 10 sections, with the music herald barges separating each group.

It will be led by the Royal Jubilee Bells – eight church bells that will sound a quarter peal and be answered by churches along the route – and Gloriana, a hand-built 26-metre rowbarge covered in gold leaf.

The first section will include rowed and paddled vessels, including Watermen’s cutters, modern rowing boats, kayaks and Dragon boats. Following behind will be boats carrying the flags of the Commonwealth nations, realms, territories and dependencies.

The royal section, with support vessels from the former Royal Yacht Britannia, features the pageant’s flagship, the royal barge, with a guard of honour behind.

In the fourth section will be the Dunkirk Little Ships, followed by a group of historic vessels.

The sixth grouping will be made up of working boats, including steam boats and tugs followed by an array of leisure vessels.

Narrow boats and Dutch barges make up the eighth section with the final two groups featuring passenger vessels.

Lord Salisbury, chairman of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Foundation, said the cost of the pageant would be £10 million, with VAT taking the figure to £12 million.

Speaking at City Hall in London, where details about the pageant were announced, he said the costs would be funded by “contributions from private donors, individuals and sponsorship”.

He added: “The Queen doesn’t want, as I’m told, to feel she’s asking the public to contribute as a sort of appeal in these times – she’s very sensitive to that sort of thing.”

But he said they were receiving inquiries from members of the public who did want to make a financial donation.