31 July 2026

By Chris Morrell
(photos provided by the article writer)

The Magna Carta (the “Great Charter)” was an historic document forced upon King John of England by some rebellious barons, the influential landowners, at Runnymede near Windsor on 15th June 1215. This document limited the arbitrary power of the King over his subjects. There were seven basic principles, viz. the Rule of Law, limits on the power of government, the right to a fair trial, justice for all, consent to taxation, property rights and the protection of widows. The original charter lasted for less than three months but was reaffirmed and reissued over many years, underpinning the development of English law. The principles embraced in the charter influenced the early American colonists and the establishment of the US Constitution.

In June 2015 the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta was celebrated with a flotilla of boats travelling downstream from Windsor, the traditional seat of royalty, to nearby Runnymede led by the Royal Rowbarge, Gloriana. The late Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 was the catalyst for the construction of the Gloriana, the first Royal barge built in over 250 years by a team of skilled craftsmen using traditional boat building methods.

The Windsor Boys’ School Boat Club, the local state secondary school well known for its expertise in competitive crew sculling, was honoured to be invited to crew the Gloriana on this notable occasion. Two crews of eighteen boys were selected to row, firstly from the Oakley Court Hotel on the Bray Reach where the Gloriana had been moored overnight, to Windsor via Boveney lock and then on to Runnymede negotiating Romney and Old Windsor locks. Large crowds had gathered at every accessible viewpoint along the river to witness the spectacle. A large flotilla of rowing boats followed the Gloriana.

Both crews managed the journey with great aplomb and expertise despite limited experience in the boat. One minor incident occurred however when an oar was lost overboard, only to retrieved by the accompanying safety boat and returned to the grasp of the somewhat embarrassed young rower! At each of the locks the barge’s electric motor ensured smooth entry and exit before manpower took over! Whilst waiting for the water level in the lock to go down at Old Windsor one spectator was heard to ask who the crew was; Eton College was one suggestion, rapidly and loudly corrected by Malcolm Knight, the barge master! The spectators on the riverbank increased hugely to more than several deep the closer the Gloriana got to its final destination.

Seven years later, on 4th June 2022, on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee (70 years) to celebrate her accession to the throne following the death of her father George VI in February 1952, a similar flotilla involving the Gloriana assembled on the River Thames in the shadow of the castle, one of many events held around the country to mark the occasion. This time The Windsor Boys’ School took part in their more traditional racing boats – an octuple sculling boat and six coxed quads. Despite the cacophony of steam whistles from several motor vessels, the boys chose a moment of relative quietness to stand up in their boats and, doffing their caps, gave three rousing cheers, a gesture much appreciated by the thousands of spectators present. Sadly, within three months, on 8th September, the Queen had passed away at Balmoral Castle, a moment poignantly marked with a rainbow apparently emanating from the Round Tower at Windsor Castle.