Royal Pageant Boss: Start Showing Generosity

The organiser of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant has threatened to name and shame members of UK plc unless they start contributing to the pageant costs.

Lord Salisbury told Sky News that reaching the £10.5m target to stage the historic event has "given me a huge amount of unnecessary work" and has been "unnecessarily distracting".

Referring to the numerous rooftop parties planned on June 3 along the pageant route, Lord Salisbury said: "There are huge companies hosting large parties watching a free show we're providing who have not made any contribution at all."

Lord Salisbury threatened: "Unless they start showing some generosity, I'll start naming them."

While pageant officials believe they will somehow reach their target, the lack of generosity shown here in the UK has made the task an "uphill struggle".

Asked whether those in the City of London were among those unwilling to give, Lord Salisbury said: "Oh yes, absolutely, very distinguished people indeed."

He also conceded that a "disproportionate amount of money has been received from overseas".

The peer had been criticised for saying he did not want a 'Tesco' pageant, insisting the 1,000 vessels taking part could not be covered with adverts and company paraphernalia.

"I don't know whether this is part of the problem, but this is about paying a tribute to the Queen so we didn't believe it was appropriate."

The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the royal family are due to take to the river on board the Spirit Of Chartwell royal barge next month.