Winston Churchill: Family travel up Thames in honour of 50th anniversary of wartime leader's funeral

Part of series of events celebrating the former Prime Minister's life on the 50th anniversary of his death

The Havengore travels up the Thames (Getty)

Winston Churchill’s family have travelled along the Thames in the same boat which carried his coffin 50 years ago today.

The Havengore carried members of the family up the Thames earlier this afternoon.

Passing under the Tower Bridge, which raised its gates in tribute to the long-dead former war leader, his family were accompanied up the river by a piper.

Current PM David Cameron paid tribute to a "a great leader and a great Briton," as he was joined by Liberal Democrat leader Nick CLegg and Ed Miliband in laying at the feet of Churchill’s statue.

Tower Bridge opens as the Havengore passes through (Reuters)

Mr Cameron continued: "He knew that Britain was not just a place on the map but a force in the world, with a destiny to shape events and a duty to stand up for freedom".

Grandchildren Celia Sandys and Randolph Churchill attended a wreath laying ceremony outside Parliament this morning.

Speaking about the events, Mr Churchill said his grandfather "retains a very warm place in the nation's heart and the family have been bowled over by all the coverage."