Royal Yacht Britannia

At 2.30 pm on 16th April 1953, ship 691 moved gracefully down her slipway to the sounds of 'Rule Britannia' - the first stage in a long and illustrious career. 'Britannia', as she was to be called, fulfilled two main roles in her life. Firstly, as the most famous ship of the 20th century, having sailed over a million miles to carry out her duties to Queen and country, entertaining dignatories from all over the world. Secondly, she became the one true place where the Royal Family could retire and relax completely, away from the glare and publicity that they continually endure.

The Royal Yacht Britannia was built at the John Brown Shipyard on the Clyde, originally for George VI. Sadly, however, the King died before her keel was laid and his daughter, Elizabeth, inherited the new ship as well as the Crown. This made the Royal Yacht Britannia unique for the young Queen and her husband, as they were able to personalise the fitting out, choosing their own decor made the yacht the only 'home' of the Royals that was not full of past inheritances.

She was commissioned by the Navy in January 1954, and on 14th April that year took the young Prince Charles and Princess Anne to meet their parents in Tobruk, the first of her 948 royal voyages. The Royal Yacht Britannia has helped make the Queen the most travelled Monarch the world has ever known, having sailed some 1,087,623 nautical miles. Wherever the ship berthed, she would always receive heartfelt applause and attention from 'ex pats' lining the quays to greet her. She, for them, was not just a ship but a little piece of home.

The Royal Yacht Britannia did not only allow the Queen and other royals to visit various parts of the commonwealth, she was also a huge ambassador for British business. It has been calculated that between 1991 and 1995 she helped raise £3bn as a result of her 'commercial sea days'. Other sources have also suggested that she made a similar figure in exports during one single visit to India in 1993. Apart from promoting Britain, The Royal Yacht Britannia also carried out other missions, such as in January 1986 when she assisted in the rescue of refugees from Aden, carrying some 1,068 to safety on her decks.

The Royal Yacht Britannia's most poignant moment came on 30th June 1997 when, after 150 years, the Union flag was lowered for the last time over Hong Kong signifying the closing chapter of the British Empire, and simultaneously marking an end to The Royal Yacht Britannia's Royal duties. She was decommissioned on 11th December 1997 at Portsmouth in the presence of the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and many of the crew who served on her, in an event of real sadness for the Queen. In April 1998 the Government announced that the Royal Yacht Britannia would be put on public display, and her final voyage took her from Portsmouth to the Scottish port of Leith, where she now has a permanent berth.