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The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA at sea ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA For 44 years the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA was the floating residence of The Queen and other members of the Royal Family during many UK and overseas tours. During that time, BRITANNIA became one of the most famous ships in the world, travelling in regions as remote as the South Pacific and Antarctica. The yacht was built by the Clyde shipbuilders Messrs John Brown & Co at a cost of £2,098,000 to replace her 50-year-old predecessor, Victoria and Albert III. BRITANNIA was named and launched by The Queen on 16 April 1953 and was commissioned on 11 January 1954. The name was The Queen’s personal choice. In BRITANNIA’s first Royal voyage The Queen joined the yacht at Tobruk and sailed up the Thames to the Pool of London in 1954. During its lifetime, the Royal Yacht travelled widely. It was used extensively on tours of areas such as the Caribbean, the coast of Europe and the Pacific, allowing The Queen to reach remote regions, and to travel around island realms. Towards the end of its service, the yacht was used on visits to South Africa and Russia in 1995. The last time The Queen was on board BRITANNIA for an official visit was on 9 August 1997 for a visit to the island of Arran. |
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Length: 125m The Royal Yacht was designed to be a venue for official entertaining and receptions, as well as a residence for Royal tours. BRITANNIA’s State apartments contained furniture and recycled fittings from the Victoria and Albert, including a small gimbal table designed by Prince Albert. The wheel in the wheelhouse came from George V’s racing yacht BRITANNIA, whilst the binnacle on the veranda deck was first used in the Royal George (built in 1817) and since fitted in each successive Royal Yacht. At the end of her life, BRITANNIA’s complement was 19 officers and 217 Royal Yachtsmen and her captain had the rank of Commodore. About half served in the Permanent Royal Yacht Service and a number served onboard for 20 years or more; officers were normally appointed for a two-year period of duty. Royal Yachtsmen were distinguished by their uniform, which was finished off at the back with a black silk bow, originally worn in mourning for Prince Albert. By tradition, no shouted orders were given. Instead, hand signals were used, with written Daily Orders (updated by ‘hot notices’ if required) taking the place of a broadcast system. The Royal Yacht BRITANNIA at Portsmouth Harbour before its decommissioning in 1997 The yacht’s diesel generator was first used as a propulsion engine in HM Submarine VAMPIRE and was removed from her in 1943. At the time of decommissioning, it was probably the oldest sea-going operational diesel in existence. BRITANNIA was equipped with the Royal Barge, built in 1964, with a top speed of 19 knots and two ten-metre long motor boats which were used as escorts for the Royal Barge and for ferrying libertymen and guests. BRITANNIA was designed to be used as a Royal Yacht in peacetime and as a hospital ship in time of war. Although BRITANNIA was never required to carry out her secondary role as a hospital ship, in January 1986, whilst on passage to Australia, the Royal Yacht co-ordinated the evacuation of 1,379 civilians of 55 different nations from Aden when that country was being invaded from the north. BRITANNIA was also used to support the UK by undertaking many diplomatic, representational and commercial duties overseas. In the last 12 months of her life, BRITANNIA hosted 67 major commercial and diplomatic events onboard and entertained 10,500 guests. Grand Staircase of the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA After consultation with The Queen, the Government decided that there would be no Royal Yacht to replace BRITANNIA. The Government decided that the final destination for the Royal Yacht would be at Leith, in Edinburgh. BRITANNIA is now moored there and has been open for visitors and as a conference centre from August 1998. It is run by a non profit-making charitable trust. |
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