Navy chiefs paid tribute at the post-review media briefing to the discipline, behaviour and cooperation of spectator craft skippers, which made the task of marshalling the spectator anchorages much easier than some seasoned observers had anticipated.

The presence of what has been quoted as "thousands of spectator craft" provided a colourful backdrop to the Royal review and many spectators remained afloat into the evening to watch an air display and son et lumiere recreation of the battle before the biggest fireworks display yet witnessed in the UK brought proceedings to a dramatic close.