Queen's Jubilee: London gets the brass polish and bunting out in preparation

London is busy shining, polishing, sweeping and adorning streets and public spaces with traditional bunting decorations in preparation for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

With only less than a week ago, the capital is getting ready for one of the biggest events in the 2012 calendar.

The patriotic spirit is being spread by hanging Union Jack flags everywhere from pubs to street art and horse-drawn carriages.

The man responsible for ensuring the Queen's Diamond Jubilee carriage procession runs through London without a hitch has described the event as the crowning moment of the celebration weekend.

Colonel Toby Browne, Crown Equerry, has spent weeks organising the event which will be part of the grand finale of the extended bank holiday weekend.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will ride through Whitehall in a 1902 state landau, used by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day last April.

Col Browne, who runs the Royal Mews, said: "For the Queen, I think, to be seen by the people in a procession like this is incredibly important and is the crowning moment of the jubilee celebration weekend.

"The people know we have this great panoply of state on show: troops, carriages, horses, military bands. To see the whole thing come through in one moment is spectacular."

William and Kate and Prince Harry, riding in a state landau, will be part of the procession from Westminster Hall, where members of the Royal Family will have lunch host by the City's livery companies, to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday June 5.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will be in another state landau travelling with the other royals along The Mall, past tens of thousands of spectators.

The carriages will be joined by a Sovereign's Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in their breastplates and plumed helmets.

The spectacle will be part of a series of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee events that day, starting with a St Paul's Cathedral service of thanksgiving and ending with the Royal Family gathered on Buckingham Palace's balcony.

Col Browne said: "It's an incredible achievement. She's only the second sovereign to reach 60 years on the throne. She's been a rock of stability for the people of this country throughout this period."

The Jubilee celebrations: