A proud display of pomp and pageantry greeted the Queen yesterday as she began the ceremonial procession for her Golden Jubilee.

She left Buckingham Palace in the Gold Coach, last used at her Silver Jubilee, at 10.45am, to the cheers of the crowd.

Thousands of people, many of whom had waited over-night, applauded, cheered and waved as proceedings began. Most could not see above the heads of the throng who stood before them, and craned to see the procession beamed from giant screens at Buckingham Palace.

A packed Temple Bar gave the Queen a rapturous reception as she passed through the historic area en route from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral.

The loudest cheer was saved for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as they passed in the Gold Coach.

Thousands of people packed the narrow streets and strained to catch a glimpse of the royal party above a sea of heads.

Dozens resorted to sitting on shoulders or hoisting video cameras into the air to get a better view.

American student Kelly Benjamin, 21, from Arizona, who opted to sit on a friend's shoulders, said: "That was amazing. I managed to see the Queen and she looked just how she does on her pictures. She wasn't moving at all, just like on the stamps."

Van driver Phil Roby, from Northampton, said: "That is one hell of a set of wheels she was riding in. It was worth coming along just to see that."

The royal procession halted in Temple Bar for the Ceremony of the Sword, in which the Lord Mayor of the City of London offers the monarch a pearl sword which she then returns.

The ceremony, which symbolises the prominence of the Sovereign in the City of London, was conducted in silence