list of british royal yachts

List of royal yachts of the United Kingdom

From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

There have been 83 royal yachts of the monarchy of the United Kingdom since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. [1]

Charles II had 25 royal yachts, [2] while five were simultaneously in service in 1831. [3]

Merchantmen or warships have occasionally been chartered or assigned for special duty as a temporary royal yacht, for example the steamship Ophir in 1901 and the battleship HMS Vanguard in 1947. [ citation needed ]

Since 1998, following a successful national tender process, Britannia has been berthed permanently at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh. [1] There are currently no British royal yachts, although MV Hebridean Princess and MY Leander G have both been used by the royal family . [4] [5]

Kingdom of England

Data about launch years from Royal Yachts of the World (1997) by Tim Madge [6]

• Mary (1660–1675)
• Royal Escape (dates unknown)
• Anne (1661–unknown)
• Bezan (1661–unknown)
• Katherine (first ship of that name) (1661–unknown): built by Phineas Pett
• Minion (dates unknown)
• Charles (first ship of that name) (1662–unknown)
• Jamie or Jemmy (1662–unknown)
• Henrietta (first ship of that name) (1663–unknown)
• Merlin * (1666–unknown)
• Monmouth (1666–unknown)
• Navy (1666–unknown)
• Saudadoes (1670–unknown)
• Cleveland (1671–unknown)
• Queenborough (first ship of that name) (1671–unknown)
• Deale (1673–unknown)
• Isle of Wight (1673–unknown)
• Kitchen (1670–unknown)
• Katherine (second ship of that name) (1674–unknown)
• Portsmouth (first ship of that name) (1674–unknown)
• Charles (second ship of that name) (1675–unknown)
• Charlot (1677–unknown)
• Mary (second ship of that name) (1677–unknown)
• Henrietta (second ship of that name) (1679–unknown)
• Izabella Bezan (1680–unknown)
• Fubbs (1682–unknown)
• Isabella (first ship of that name) (1680–unknown)
• William & Mary (first ship of that name) (1694–unknown)
• Squirrel (1694–unknown)
• Scout (1695–unknown)
• Queenborough (second ship of that name) (1701–unknown)
• Soesdyke (1702–unknown)
• Portsmouth (second ship of that name) (1702–unknown)
• Isabella (1703–unknown)
• Drake (1705–unknown)

Kingdom of Great Britain

• Dublin (1709–unknown)
• Bolton (1709–unknown)
• Charlot (1710–unknown)
• Carolina (1710–unknown)
• Chatham (1710–unknown)
• Chatham (1741–unknown)
• Portsmouth (1742–unknown)
• Royal Caroline (renamed Royal Charlotte in 1761) (1749–1820)
• Dorset (1753–unknown)
• Plymouth (1755–unknown)
• Augusta (1771–unknown)
• Portsmouth (1794–unknown)
• Plymouth (1796–unknown)

United Kingdom

• Royal Sovereign (1804–1849)
• William & Mary (1807–unknown)
• Royal George (1817–1842)
• Prince Regent (1820–unknown)
• Royal Charlotte (1824–1832)
• Royal Adelaide (1834–1878)
• Victoria and Albert (1843–1855): remained in service as Osborne (1855–1867)
• Fairy (1845–1863) (tender to Victoria and Albert )
• Elfin (1848–1901)
• Victoria and Albert (ii) (1855–1900)
• Alberta (1863–1913) (tender to Victoria and Albert (ii))
• Osborne (1870–1908) (tender to Victoria and Albert (ii))
• Victoria and Albert (iii) (1901–1937)
• SS Ophir * (1901): chartered steamship for the royal tour of the colonies
• Alexandra (1908–1925)
• RMS Medina (1911–1912): chartered P&O steamship for the royal visit to India
• Britannia (royal cutter yacht) (1893–1936)
• RMS Empress of Britain (1931–1940)
• RMS Empress of Australia (1939) [7] [ dead link ]
• HMS   Renown   (1916) : used in 1920 for the Prince of Wales Empire tour and in 1927 by the Duke and Duchess of York to visit Australia
• HMS Vanguard (1947): battleship used to take George VI and family to South Africa
• Gothic (1952–1954)
• Britannia (1954–1997)

Potential new yacht

In 2021 the UK government announced plans for a new 'ship of state' to be managed jointly between the Ministry of Defence , Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department for International Trade . The plan for the ship is to "host trade fairs, ministerial summits and diplomatic talks", fulfilling functions in a similar capacity to previous Royal Yachts. The ship would be crewed by the Royal Navy. The cost was placed at between £200m and £250m. Some reports suggested the yacht would be named after the late Duke of Edinburgh . By late 2022 some reports suggested that the UK government might not proceed with the new yacht. [8] [9] [10] [11]

• Royal Yacht Squadron
• Royal barge of the United Kingdom
• State and royal cars of the United Kingdom
• Air transport of the Royal Family and government of the United Kingdom
• British Royal Train
• List of imperial and royal yachts by country
• [2] "All at sea with Charles II" . University of Southampton . 27 April 2012 . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• [3] Madge 1997 , p.   183.
• [4] Witchell, Nicholas (23 July 2010). "Queen heads off on Hebridean adventure" . BBC News .
• [5] Wilson, Sophia (1 June 2022). "Leander G: On board the classic yacht favoured by British royalty" . Boat International . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• [6] Madge 1997 , pp.   182–183.
• [7] "40-year-old Ship Makes Last Trip; Empress of Australia , Luxury Liner and Troop Carrier, on Way to Scrap Heap" . The New York Times . 1 May 1952.
• [8] Heffer, Greg (29 July 2021). "Boris Johnson told to scrap 'vanity' project after admission new national yacht could cost £250m" . Sky News . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• [9] "Boris Johnson plans to sink £200m into new ship of state" . The Guardian . Press Association . 30 May 2021 . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• [10] Forrest, Adam (28 July 2021). "Boris Johnson says £250m royal yacht will let UK 'show itself off' " . The Independent . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• [11] Nelson, Nigel (22 October 2022). "Chancellor Jeremy Hunt plans to scrap Boris Johnson's 'vanity' £250m yacht" . The Mirror . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• Madge, Tim (1997). Royal Yachts of the World . Thomas Reed Publications. pp.   182–183 . ISBN   0-901281-74-3 .

Further reading

• Fenwick, Valerie; Gale, Alison (1998). Historic Shipwrecks, Discovered, Protected and Investigated . Tempus Publishing Limited. pp.   112–113. ISBN   0-7524-1473-9 .
• Lavery, Brain (2022). Royal Yachts Under Sail . Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books Limited. ISBN   978-13990-9-294-4 .

External links

• Royal Marines Bands
• New York Times archive The end of the Royal Tour of 1901
• New York Times archive Ordering the new yacht in 1897
• Hampshire and Dorset shipwrecks Collision of HMY Albee with the Mistletoe
• New York Times archive Review of the Fleet 1897
• The Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Edinburgh. Visitor attraction and evening events venue.
• The list of Navy vessels for December 1695 (House of Commons Journal)
• The £1.4-million yacht Hebridian Princess This yacht was chartered by the Queen for her 80th Birthday. Formerly the MacBrayne ferry Columba built in 1964; converted to a miniature cruise ship for just 49 passengers in 1989.
• The £50-million Motor Yacht Leander Chartered by Prince of Wales for visit to Caribbean in March 2008. Chartered yacht instead of jet was to demonstrate his concern for the environment.

• British monarchy-related lists
• Pages using ISBN magic links

List of Royal Yachts of the United Kingdom

• View history

This is a list of Royal Yachts of the United Kingdom . There have been 84 Royal Yachts since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. King Charles II had 25 Royal Yachts and five were simultaneously in service in 1831. Occasionally merchantmen or warships have been chartered or assigned for special duty as a temporary Royal Yacht, for example the steamship Ophir in 1901 and the battleship HMS Vanguard in 1947. In 1997 HMY Britannia was decommissioned and not replaced. There is currently no British Royal Yacht, although MV Hebridean Princess has been used by the Royal Family . [1]

• 3 References
• 4 External links
• Mary (1660-1675)
• Royal Escape
• Anne (1661-?)
• Bezan (1661-?)
• Katherine (1661 - ?) Built by Phineas Pett
• Charles (1662-?)
• Jamie or Jemmy
• Merlin * (1666-?)
• Monmouth (1666-?)
• Navy (1666-?)
• Saudadoes (1670-?)
• Cleveland (1671-?)
• Queenborough (1671-?)
• Deale (1673-?)
• Isle of Wight (1673-?)
• Kitchen (1674-?)
• Katherine (1674-?)
• Portsmouth (1674-?)
• Charles (1675-?)
• Charlot (1677-?)
• Mary (1677-?)
• Henrietta (1679-?)
• Izabella Bezan (1680-?)
• Fubbs (1682-?)
• Isabella (1680-?)
• William & Mary (1694-?)
• Squirrel (1695-?)
• Scout (1695-?)
• Queenborough (1701-?)
• Soeesdyke (1702-?)
• Portsmouth (1702-?)
• Isabella (1703-?)
• Drake (1705-?)
• Dublin (1709-?)
• Bolton (1709-?)
• Charlot (1710-?)
• Carolina (1710-?)
• Chatham (1710-?)
• Chatham (1741-?)
• Portsmouth (1742-?)
• Royal Caroline (renamed Royal Charlotte in 1761), 1749 - ?
• Dorset (1753-?)
• Plymouth (1755-?)
• Augusta (1771-?)
• Portsmouth (1794-?)
• Plymouth (1796-?)
• Royal Sovereign (1804-?)
• William & Mary (1807-?)
• Royal George (1817-1842)
• Prince Regent (1820-?)
• Royal Charlotte (1824-?)
• Royal Adelaide (1833-?)
• Victoria and Albert (1843-1855) - remained in-service as Osborne (1855-1867)
• Fairy (1845-1863) (tender to Victoria and Albert )
• Elfin (1848-1901)
• Victoria and Albert (ii) (1855-1900)
• Alberta (1863-1913) (tender to Victoria and Albert (ii))
• Osborne (1870-1908) (tender to Victoria and Albert (ii))
• Victoria and Albert (iii) (1901-1937)
• SS Ophir * (1901) - chartered steamship for the royal tour of the colonies
• Alexandra (1908-1925)
• Britannia (Royal Cutter Yacht) * (1893-1936)
• RMS Empress of Britain (1931-1940)
• RMS Empress of Australia * (1939) [2]
• HMS Renown (1916) Used in 1920 for the Prince of Wales Empire tour and in 1927 by the Duke and Duchess of York to visit Australia
• HMS Vanguard * (1947) Battleship used to take George VI and family to South Africa
• Gothic * (1952-1954)
• Britannia (1954-1997)
• MV Hebridean Princess * (chartered 2006 & 2010)
• ↑ Witchell, Nicholas (2010-07-23). "Queen heads off on Hebridean adventure" . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-10739188 .  
• ↑ 40-year-old Ship Makes Last Trip; Empress of Australia , Luxury Liner and Troop Carrier, on Way to Scrap Heap," New York Times. 1 May 1952.

References [ ]

• Madge, Tim (1997). Royal Yachts of the World . Thomas Reed Publications. pp. 182–3. ISBN  0-901281-74-3 .  
• Fenwick, Valerie and Gale, Alison (1998), Historic Shipwrecks, Discovered, Protected and Investigated ,pp112–113 Tempus Publishing Limited, ISBN 0-7524-1473-9 . Describes the Mary and mentions Katherine and Phineas Pett.

External links [ ]

• Royal Marines Bands - mention of Ophir
• New York Times archive The end of the Royal Tour of 1901
• New York Times archive Ordering the new yacht in 1897
• Hampshire and Dorset shipwrecks Collision of HMY Albee with the Mistletoe
• New York Times archive Review of the Fleet 1897
• The list of Navy vessels for December 1695 (House of Commons Journal)
• The £1.4-million yacht Hebridian Princess This yacht was chartered by the Queen for her 80th Birthday. Formerly the MacBrayne ferry Columba built in 1964; converted to a miniature cruise ship for just 49 passengers in 1989.
• The £50-million Motor Yacht Leander Chartered by Prince of Wales for visit to Caribbean in March 2008. Chartered yacht instead of jet was to demonstrate his concern for the environment.

Honeymoons and holidays - How much do you know about the Royal Yacht Britannia?

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on the Royal Britannia. Getty

The Royal Yacht Britannia served the Queen for 44 years from its launch on April 16th, 1953 until it was decommissioned in 1997.

Editor's note: Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-serving monarch passed away on Sept 8, 2022, aged 96. Now, BHT takes a look back at some of the most popular stories which arose during her 70-year reign. 

It seemed very fitting that, just as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was celebrating becoming the longest-serving monarch in British history, I should be visiting one of her most faithful and loyal servants. 

The Britannia was actually commissioned by the Queen’s father, King George VI. Sadly, he died on February 6, 1952, just two days after the order to build a new Royal Yacht had been given to John Brown & Company in Clydebank. This meant, however, that the Queen was given the opportunity to play an important role in the design and fitting out of the ship to reflect the personal tastes of Her Majesty and Prince Phillip.

The Royal Yacht has been described as two ships in one, with the operational side of the ship, where the naval personnel lived and worked, in the area forward of the mainmast, and the Royal Apartments occupying the rear.

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Yet, if Britannia was thought of as two ships it also served a dual purpose. The Royal Yacht has been described by the Queen as the place where she could “truly relax.” The Queen had said that “Britannia is to be at times the home of my husband and myself and of our family.” This was achieved partly in the understated design of the Royal apartments and also by the use of personal photographs and items from previous Royal Yachts, all giving a country house atmosphere to the whole experience.

Royal Yacht

In addition to being a home for the family, however, it also had a diplomatic role, serving as a base for state visits and later for trade missions. Indeed, the State Dining Room, the grandest room onboard, was the scene of numerous formal banquets involving many illustrious guests, ranging from Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher to Presidents Reagan, Clinton, Mandela, and Yeltsin, who were all entertained there. Very few people, of whatever nationality, ever refused an invitation to dine on Britannia .

Even though being on board Britannia allowed Her Majesty to relax, she was still faced with affairs of state, and would spend several hours each day working on official documents, ferried to wherever the Royal Yacht was in the world in their distinctive red dispatch boxes. The Queen’s sitting room on the ship was also her office. Prince Phillip had his own sitting room, a much more masculine design, although he referred to it as his study.

JONATHAN EASTLAND/ALAMY

How many bedrooms are on the ship?

The Queen’s bedroom and Prince Philip’s have a connecting door and both had buzzers by the bed so that they could summon a steward at any time. Each room had a bathroom, equipped with a thermometer so that the Royal bath water was always at the correct temperature.

Although both bedrooms are quite modestly decorated and fitted out, Her Majesty’s bedroom, described as having “floral charm,” included a silk panel, specially commissioned in 1953, above her bed. Prince Philip’s, as one might expect from a former Navy officer, was finished in darker timber, again giving it a slightly more masculine look.

There are two further bedrooms on the Shelter deck, including one known informally as the honeymoon suite which houses the only double bed on board. Four newly married Royal couples have used the room; Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones in 1960, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips in 1973, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and the Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Just along from the Royal bedrooms is the Verandah Deck, which also served a dual function as a leisure area for the family or a reception area during official visits. Among its furnishings is an impressive binnacle—a receptacle for a compass. The binnacle, originally carved from a single piece of teak, was one of several items rescued by Prince Philip from the previous Royal Yacht, Victoria & Albert III , having originally been part of Queen Victoria’s yacht, Royal George . Beside the Verandah Deck is the Sun Lounge, described as the Queen’s favorite room, a place where Her Majesty could really relax with the family, take tea or perhaps enjoy a drink.

PRESSELECT/ALAMY

Britannia carried a crew of 21 officers and 220 yachtsmen (known as “yotties”), who were required to carry out their duties in a way that allowed Her Majesty to relax completely. This regime, known as “unobtrusive excellence,” meant that most orders were given using sign language and crew members wore sneakers to further minimize noise.

In Britannia ’s ambassadorial role, during its working life, the ship made more than 700 visits to countries in the British Commonwealth and across the world. Nevertheless, it was difficult in the modern world to justify the existence of a Royal Yacht.

In 1994, the decision was finally taken to decommission Britannia . Just three years later the British Government announced that it would not be replaced. It was decided, however, that unlike its predecessors, the yacht would not be scuttled, but would go on show as a tourist attraction at a location to be decided. There was stiff competition to host the Royal Yacht, but the port of Leith, near Edinburgh, was successful.

The decommissioning of Britannia in Portsmouth on December 11, 1997, was an emotional moment for all concerned, with Her Majesty, Prince Philip and members of the crew all striving to keep their feelings in check.

Her Majesty’s loss has been the public’s gain, presenting a unique opportunity to get a fascinating glimpse of the life of the Royal family and their relationship with this amazing ship.

* Originally published in March 2016.

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King Charles III makes a poignant return to the Royal Yacht Britannia – his mother’s beloved home from home

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King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) with Princess Diana on the Royal Yacht Britannia at the start of their honeymoon cruise

King Charles III yesterday made a poignant return to the Royal Yacht Britannia. A ‘home from home’ for Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh and their four children, the Royal Yacht Britannia held an important place in the lives of the Royal Family for more than four decades until it was decommissioned in 1997.

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Family holidays, honeymoon and precious private time – the Royal Yacht Britannia brought so much to the Windsors. ‘This was the place out of the public eye, they could relax and be themselves. On board Britannia that was their family time and it was our job to make their stay comfortable,’ one former crew member recalled yesterday.

Members of the Royal Yacht Britannia make a toast with King Charles III during a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia

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Boarding the decommissioned yacht, King Charles no doubt would have been transported back through the decades to the countless voyages he shared with his siblings, cousins and parents – and later his wife and their young sons. During the visit – part of a busy schedule of engagements for Holyrood Week – King Charles sipped rum with sailors, met former crew members and attended a reception in the State Dining Room. ‘To all the marvellous Yotties who keep it all going, you are all brilliant,’ he said, toasting the crew.

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The history of royal yachts dates back to the reign of Charles II who, when he became King of England, Scotland and Ireland on the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, was gifted a yacht called the Mary by his Dutch allies. There have been a total of 82 royal yachts since. As well as providing monarchs and their families a place in which to relax, they have also been deployed on diplomatic missions; a role that was particularly important before royals were able to jet off on planes.

Prince Charles and Princess Anne with their nanny on board the Royal yacht, Britannia at Portsmouth

Although it was Queen Elizabeth II and her family who enjoyed the use of the Britannia, the vessel had been commissioned by her father, King George VI , as a replacement for the ageing Victoria and Albert which was decommissioned in 1939 having been constructed during the reign of Queen Victoria.

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George VI, who reigned over Britain during the Second World War, took a practical approach when planning the new vessel, lest the nation should once again find itself in the throes of conflict, and ensured it could easily be turned into a hospital ship if needed. Sadly, the King died before construction was completed and it was his daughter and son-in-law who had the final say on its design.

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The state room on the Royal Yacht Britannia

The Britannia set sail on her maiden voyage from Portsmouth to the Grand Harbour in Malta on 14 April 1952, carrying Princess Anne and her brother Prince Charles , who reunited with the then Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the end of their Commonwealth tour. The late Queen first boarded the yacht at Tobruk in the country then known as the Kingdom of Libya in May 1954, and she famously became the first British monarch to visit Chicago in 1959 when the yacht docked in the city.

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It became integral to royal life. As a young boy, Prince Charles is said to have stolen pastries from the kitchen of the yacht, and was captured on film playing on the decks and swooping down a makeshift slide. Sir Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela were among those who dined in the opulent State Dining Room, while Prince Charles and Princess Diana honeymooned on board. It was also the location of fun-filled family holidays, with private home videos and photos shared from the royal archives over the years revealing how the late Queen relaxed on deck as the family whizzed down waterslides.

Season 5 of The Crown featured the Britannia towards the end of her seaworthy days. The series depicts Queen Elizabeth II (played by Imelda Staunton) tries to strong-arm Prime Minister Sir John Major (Johnny Lee Miller) into footing the bill for a sizeable refurbishment, telling him: ‘From the design of the hull to the smallest piece of china, she is a floating, seagoing expression of me.’ The Duke of Edinburgh (Jonathan Pryce) also does his best to compel Sir John to take action.

The Royal Yacht Britannia in Hong Kong

Ultimately, however, it was decided (as in real life) that the ‘costs were too great’ and, in 1994, it was announced the Britannia would be decommissioned. Three years later, the vessel that had given the late Queen so many happy memories embarked on its final voyage – a farewell tour around the UK. On the day of decommissioning, the enormity of the occasion was clear for the world to see, for Her late Majesty was photographed wiping away a tear during the ceremony; a rare public display of emotion for the stoic sovereign.

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Since her retirement, Britannia has been moored in the Port of Leith in Edinburgh and has served as a tourist attraction. It marks the final chapter in a fascinating story of the beloved floating royal residence.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia : A History of Queen Elizabeth II’s Favorite Palace

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The christening of The Royal Yacht Britannia serves as a cheeky season opener to  The Crown . Black-and-white Pathé News–style footage shows a soon-to-be-crowned Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) cheered on by shipbuilders as she launches her new 412-foot yacht. “I hope that this brand-new vessel, like your brand-new queen, will prove to be dependable and constant. Capable of weathering any storm,” she says about the royal replacement for the  Victoria and Albert III . By the series’ season finale, set 44 years later, both the sovereign and the floating palace she christened  Britannia will have hit rough seas—the cost of repairing the creaky old vessel and the modern role of the monarchy both in question. Ultimately, the yacht that undertook 968 official voyages all over the world, hosting dignitaries—including 13 US presidents—at receptions and banquets, was dry-docked near Edinburgh, Scotland, where it continues to be a popular tourist attraction. Here are some of the most buoyant facts about the palace the Queen famously said was “the one place where I can truly relax.”

The sun room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981. 

In a nod to the country’s post-war austerity, Elizabeth scaled back the design of the ship that her father, King George VI, had commissioned just two days before he died. Rather than following the opulent plan laid out by the Scottish firm McInnes Gardner & Partners, she opted for the understated elegance envisioned by architect Sir Hugh Casson, who described “running a lawn mower over the Louis XVIl adornments” in favor of simple white walls, lilac-gray carpeting, and “a bit of gilding in grand places.” Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip, were said to have personally chosen the furniture—much of it, including linens, recycled from the  Victoria and Albert —fabrics (florals, chintz, toile), and paintings. 

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on board the Royal Yacht Britannia as they prepare to depart on their honeymoon cruise in 1981.

As a former Royal Navy Commander, Prince Phillip also saw to the ship’s technical details, and his Bluebottle racing yacht inspired the Britannia ’s navy-hued hull. Outer decks were made of two-inch Burmese teak. The steering wheel was reclaimed from Britannia ’s namesake, King Edward VII’s 1893 racing yacht; a wheelhouse wheel came from George V’s racing yacht; and a gold-and-white binnacle (housing the ship’s compass) was salvaged from King George III’s yacht and installed on the Veranda deck. Fittings from former royal ships were also reused. 

The drawing room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1978. 

The 4,000-ton yacht had a crew of 220 Royal Yachtsmen who lived on board, about 45 household staff, and occasionally a 26-member Royal Marine embarked to entertain dignitaries. The monarch often welcomed guests from the ship’s grand staircase. (Stairs leading from the Veranda to the Royal deck were sometimes transformed into a water slide for the kids.)  Britannia ’s apartments were designed like those of a first-class ocean liner. A 56-seat state dining room, where many of the gifts given to the monarch (a wood-carved shark from Pitcairn Island, a bejeweled gold statue from Bangkok) were displayed, was the scene of formal dinners with guests such as Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. More intimate gatherings were held in the Queen’s official reception room, a smaller state drawing room with floral upholstered pieces, simple wood tables, an electric fireplace, and a Welmar baby grand piano bolted to the deck—played by everyone from Sir Noël Coward to Princesses Diana and Margaret. The teak-clad sun lounge, with rattan furniture and a toile loveseat, was Elizabeth’s favorite place—where she had her breakfast, afternoon tea, and also enjoyed her favorite Dubonnet and gin cocktails.

The Queen’s sitting room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981. 

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A ship elevator reserved for royal use moved between the Upper and Shelter Decks. The latter is where four Royal Apartments (bedrooms), including the Queen and Prince Phillip’s connecting compartments, were located. Hers featured florals, his had red accents. Elizabeth’s understated Upper Deck private sitting room, done in pastels and neutrals, served as the office where she conducted state business. Phillip used his sitting room, with its wood desk facing a model of his first command, the HMS Magpie , as his study. Below deck there was a wine cellar, as well as a cargo hold that could carry a barge, speed- and sailboats, plus a royal Range Rover and Rolls-Royce. The yacht could also be converted into a hospital (though it never was).

The Queen shed a tear at the decommissioning ceremony for thye Royal Yacht Britannia.

As depicted in  The Crown, Britannia ’s final official trip was to Hong Kong in 1997, where Prince Charles attended the handover of the territory to China. By then, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s administration was complaining that the £11 million a year needed to keep the boat afloat couldn’t be justified. With Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and all of their children in attendance,  Britannia was decommissioned at a ceremony in Portsmouth, England on December 11, 1997, with the monarch seen wiping away a tear. The yacht, now docked in Leith, Scotland, is open to the public as a museum and events space. (Prior to their wedding, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips’s daughter Zara Phillips and her fiancé Mike Tindall had a celebration there.) Visitors will note that every clock on board reads 3:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked her beloved  Britannia for the final time on that December day.

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List of royal yachts of the United Kingdom

There have been 83 royal yachts of the monarchy of the United Kingdom since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. [1]

Kingdom of England

Kingdom of great britain, united kingdom, potential new yacht, further reading, external links.

Charles II had 25 royal yachts, [2] while five were simultaneously in service in 1831. [3]

Merchantmen or warships have occasionally been chartered or assigned for special duty as a temporary royal yacht, for example the steamship Ophir in 1901 and the battleship HMS Vanguard in 1947. [ citation needed ]

Since 1998, following a successful national tender process, Britannia has been berthed permanently at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh. [1] There are currently no British royal yachts, although MV Hebridean Princess and MY Leander G have both been used by the royal family . [4] [5]

Data about launch years from Royal Yachts of the World (1997) by Tim Madge [6]

• Mary (1660–1675)
• Royal Escape (dates unknown)
• Anne (1661–unknown)
• Bezan (1661–unknown)
• Katherine (first ship of that name) (1661–unknown): built by Phineas Pett
• Minion (dates unknown)
• Charles (first ship of that name) (1662–unknown)
• Jamie or Jemmy (1662–unknown)
• Henrietta (first ship of that name) (1663–unknown)
• Merlin * (1666–unknown)
• Monmouth (1666–unknown)
• Navy (1666–unknown)
• Saudadoes (1670–unknown)
• Cleveland (1671–unknown)
• Queenborough (first ship of that name) (1671–unknown)
• Deale (1673–unknown)
• Isle of Wight (1673–unknown)
• Kitchen (1670–unknown)
• Katherine (second ship of that name) (1674–unknown)
• Portsmouth (first ship of that name) (1674–unknown)
• Charles (second ship of that name) (1675–unknown)
• Charlot (1677–unknown)
• Mary (second ship of that name) (1677–unknown)
• Henrietta (second ship of that name) (1679–unknown)
• Izabella Bezan (1680–unknown)
• Fubbs (1682–unknown)
• Isabella (first ship of that name) (1680–unknown)
• William & Mary (first ship of that name) (1694–unknown)
• Squirrel (1694–unknown)
• Scout (1695–unknown)
• Queenborough (second ship of that name) (1701–unknown)
• Soesdyke (1702–unknown)
• Portsmouth (second ship of that name) (1702–unknown)
• Isabella (1703–unknown)
• Drake (1705–unknown)
• Dublin (1709–unknown)
• Bolton (1709–unknown)
• Charlot (1710–unknown)
• Carolina (1710–unknown)
• Chatham (1710–unknown)
• Chatham (1741–unknown)
• Portsmouth (1742–unknown)
• Royal Caroline (renamed Royal Charlotte in 1761) (1749–1820)
• Dorset (1753–unknown)
• Plymouth (1755–unknown)
• Augusta (1771–unknown)
• Portsmouth (1794–unknown)
• Plymouth (1796–unknown)
• Royal Sovereign (1804–1849)
• William & Mary (1807–unknown)
• Royal George (1817–1842)
• Prince Regent (1820–unknown)
• Royal Charlotte (1824–1832)
• Royal Adelaide (1834–1878)
• Victoria and Albert (1843–1855): remained in service as Osborne (1855–1867)
• Fairy (1845–1863) (tender to Victoria and Albert )
• Elfin (1848–1901)
• Victoria and Albert (ii) (1855–1900)
• Alberta (1863–1913) (tender to Victoria and Albert (ii))
• Osborne (1870–1908) (tender to Victoria and Albert (ii))
• Victoria and Albert (iii) (1901–1937)
• SS Ophir * (1901): chartered steamship for the royal tour of the colonies
• Alexandra (1908–1925)
• RMS Medina (1911–1912): chartered P&O steamship for the royal visit to India
• Britannia (royal cutter yacht) (1893–1936)
• RMS Empress of Britain (1931–1940)
• RMS Empress of Australia (1939) [7] [ dead link ]
• HMS   Renown   (1916) : used in 1920 for the Prince of Wales Empire tour and in 1927 by the Duke and Duchess of York to visit Australia
• HMS Vanguard (1947): battleship used to take George VI and family to South Africa
• Gothic (1952–1954)
• Britannia (1954–1997)

In 2021 the UK government announced plans for a new 'ship of state' to be managed jointly between the Ministry of Defence , Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department for International Trade . The plan for the ship is to "host trade fairs, ministerial summits and diplomatic talks", fulfilling functions in a similar capacity to previous Royal Yachts. The ship would be crewed by the Royal Navy. The cost was placed at between £200m and £250m. Some reports suggested the yacht would be named after the late Duke of Edinburgh . By late 2022 some reports suggested that the UK government might not proceed with the new yacht. [8] [9] [10] [11]

• Royal Yacht Squadron
• Royal barge of the United Kingdom
• State and royal cars of the United Kingdom
• Air transport of the Royal Family and government of the United Kingdom
• British Royal Train
• List of imperial and royal yachts by country

Related Research Articles

Leith is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith.

Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia , also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia , is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy. She was in service from 1954 until 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660, and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893. During her 43-year career, the yacht travelled more than a million nautical miles around the world to more than 600 ports in 135 countries. Now retired from royal service, Britannia is permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal, Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland, where it is a visitor attraction with over 300,000 visits each year.

His Majesty's Ship , abbreviated HMS and H.M.S. , is the ship prefix used for ships of the navy in some monarchies. Derived terms such as HMAS and equivalents in other languages such as SMS are used.

The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated or formerly associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain or defaced with a badge or other emblem.

A royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht . Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head. The royal yacht is most often crewed by personnel from the navy and used by the monarch and his/her family on both private and official travels.

Britannia is the Latin name for Britain, used as the female personification of Britain.

CP Ships was a large Canadian shipping company established in the 19th century. From the late 1880s until after World War II, the company was Canada's largest operator of Atlantic and Pacific steamships. Many immigrants travelled on CP ships from Europe to Canada. The sinking of the steamship RMS  Empress of Ireland just before World War I was the largest maritime disaster in Canadian history. The company provided Canadian Merchant Navy vessels in World Wars I and II. Twelve vessels were lost due to enemy action in World War II, including the RMS  Empress of Britain , which was the largest ship ever sunk by a German U-boat.

HMY Victoria and Albert was a royal yacht of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. The yacht was designed by the Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy Sir William White, launched in 1899 and ready for service in 1901. This was the third yacht to be named Victoria and Albert and she was fitted with steam engines fired by Belleville water-tube boilers. She served four sovereigns, and was decommissioned as royal yacht in 1939, served in the Second World War, and was broken up in 1954.

HMY Alberta was a royal yacht of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. She was built by Pembroke Dock and launched in 1863.

Portsmouth is an island port city situated on Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire, England. Its history has been influenced by its association with the sea, and its proximity to London, and mainland Europe.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir William Henry May was a Royal Navy Officer. As a junior officer he took part an expedition to rescue Commander Albert Markham who had got into difficulty trying to reach the North Pole via Smith Sound, the sea passage between Greenland and Canada's northernmost island, Ellesmere Island.

Rear-Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence was a British Royal Navy officer and illegitimate son of Prince William, the future William IV, and his mistress Dorothea Jordan. FitzClarence joined the navy in 1813. In the following year he joined a fourth rate which saw service in the War of 1812, including in the unsuccessful blockade and chase of USS Constitution . FitzClarence saw frequent service in the Mediterranean Sea. Coming under the patronage of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Fremantle, FitzClarence received further naval education from Commander William Henry Smyth and served in the Ionian Islands upholding British neutrality in the Greek War of Independence.

Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Mary :

A steam yacht is a class of luxury or commercial yacht with primary or secondary steam propulsion in addition to the sails usually carried by yachts.

MY Meserret III is a luxury yacht built by Peene-Werft at Wolgast in 1992. It is one of the world's largest yachts. The yacht was formerly known as Leander G . She is owned by Mehmet Omer Koç.

Britannia may refer to any one of a large number of ships:

Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Fairy :

The state funeral of Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, occurred on 2 February 1901, after her death on 22 January. It was one of the largest gatherings of European royalty.

The following index is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Wikipedia's articles on recreational dive sites. The level of coverage may vary:

The MV Fingal is a former Northern Lighthouse Board ship converted into a boutique hotel. The Fingal is permanently berthed near to the former Royal Yacht Britannia as part of a major tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland.

• ↑ "All at sea with Charles II" . University of Southampton . 27 April 2012 . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• ↑ Madge 1997 , p.   183.
• ↑ Witchell, Nicholas (23 July 2010). "Queen heads off on Hebridean adventure" . BBC News .
• ↑ Wilson, Sophia (1 June 2022). "Leander G: On board the classic yacht favoured by British royalty" . Boat International . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• ↑ Madge 1997 , pp.   182–183.
• ↑ "40-year-old Ship Makes Last Trip; Empress of Australia , Luxury Liner and Troop Carrier, on Way to Scrap Heap" . The New York Times . 1 May 1952.
• ↑ Heffer, Greg (29 July 2021). "Boris Johnson told to scrap 'vanity' project after admission new national yacht could cost £250m" . Sky News . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• ↑ "Boris Johnson plans to sink £200m into new ship of state" . The Guardian . Press Association . 30 May 2021 . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• ↑ Forrest, Adam (28 July 2021). "Boris Johnson says £250m royal yacht will let UK 'show itself off' " . The Independent . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• ↑ Nelson, Nigel (22 October 2022). "Chancellor Jeremy Hunt plans to scrap Boris Johnson's 'vanity' £250m yacht" . The Mirror . Retrieved 29 October 2022 .
• Madge, Tim (1997). Royal Yachts of the World . Thomas Reed Publications. pp.   182–183 . ISBN   0-901281-74-3 .
• Fenwick, Valerie; Gale, Alison (1998). Historic Shipwrecks, Discovered, Protected and Investigated . Tempus Publishing Limited. pp.   112–113. ISBN   0-7524-1473-9 .
• Lavery, Brain (2022). Royal Yachts Under Sail . Barnsley, UK: Pen & Sword Books Limited. ISBN   978-13990-9-294-4 .
• Royal Marines Bands
• New York Times archive The end of the Royal Tour of 1901
• New York Times archive Ordering the new yacht in 1897
• Hampshire and Dorset shipwrecks Collision of HMY Albee with the Mistletoe
• New York Times archive Review of the Fleet 1897
• The Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Edinburgh. Visitor attraction and evening events venue.
• The list of Navy vessels for December 1695 (House of Commons Journal)
• The £1.4-million yacht Hebridian Princess This yacht was chartered by the Queen for her 80th Birthday. Formerly the MacBrayne ferry Columba built in 1964; converted to a miniature cruise ship for just 49 passengers in 1989.
• The £50-million Motor Yacht Leander Chartered by Prince of Wales for visit to Caribbean in March 2008. Chartered yacht instead of jet was to demonstrate his concern for the environment.

Royal Yachts That Are Beyond Lavish

Royals seem to have it all — multiple palaces and vacation homes, fabulous wardrobes, and lavish vacations in exotic locations. Royal families in some countries even have their own yachts.

As of this writing, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Morocco, and Monaco have working royal yachts. However, the royals of numerous other countries, including Great Britain, have enjoyed excursions on royal yachts of their own, some with interesting and extensive histories. A  1976 New York Times article revealed that the British royal family's former 412-foot impeccably maintained yacht, which was constructed for the late Queen Elizabeth II, was "to an ordinary yacht what Buckingham Palace is to the house next door."

From the high-end finishes and opulence galore to the wealth of amenities to experience on board, it's clear that an excursion on a royal yacht is like none other. From working royal yachts to those which have since been sold or decommissioned and placed on display for all to enjoy, these past and present yachts are beyond luxe.

Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia of Great Britain

The 400-foot-long, John Brown-designed " former floating palace " of the late Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned by King George VI in 1952. Following her father's death and her coronation, Elizabeth set sail on Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia in 1954. The queen was fond of the ship, which she once described as "the one place where I can truly relax." During Britannia's 40-plus year operation, it hosted several royal honeymoons, including that of King Charles III (then Prince Charles) and Princess Diana, and provided transportation for official royal visits. 

The luxurious yacht featured a drawing room, dining room, two sitting rooms, spacious crew accommodations, elevator, wine cellar, official reception room with fireplace and baby grand piano, and ornate staterooms with private bathrooms and dressing rooms.  The New York Times described the royal apartments as "[giving] way to the homey, patched elbow chic of an English country house, with flowered chintz slipcovers, family photographs, and rattan settees, interspersed with the occasional relic of Empire." And then there was the sun lounge, which was the queen's favorite space.

The Britannia's operating and maintenance costs eventually led to its decommissioning in 1997. These days, the yacht is stationed in Edinburgh for all to see — TripAdvisor gave the excursion the Travelers' Choice Best of the Best award in 2023.  Tickets include a self-guided audio tour and access to all five decks, which include the state apartments and sun lounge, while the Royal Deck Tearoom offers the opportunity to enjoy food and beverages aboard.

Azzam of Abu Dhabi

Following its April 2013 launch, the Azzam was the world's largest private yacht at 180 meters (about 591 feet) — only trumped in 2019 by the REV Ocean. Built by Lürssen Yachts for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the Abu Dhabi royal family, the Azzam's exterior was designed by Nauta, which aimed to make the vessel elegant, sleek, and fast — with a top speed of 33 knots. Nauta founder Mario Pedol described the four-year design process, said to have taken more than 4,000 workers at a cost of over $500 million, to Boat International as "challenging."

French designer Christophe Leoni was enlisted to bring classic French regal style to the ship's interior, including the finest crafted wood furniture veneered with mother-of-pearl inlays. The yacht's other unique features include 18 guest suites, a pool, a gym, and a practice space for golf.

The Azzam was built to accommodate 80 crew members and 36 guests and features a large main saloon, serving as the vessel's focal point. To ensure unobstructed views, it was designed without pillars and with windows extending the full height of the yacht. "It was quite a challenge to make this space with no pillars," Pedol admitted to the outlet, adding that the ceiling beams needed to be exactly 1 meter (about 3.3 feet) wide. And, to ensure the windows were completely stormproof, the thick glass was custom-engineered in Italy. Another cool feature? The saloon's chandelier was constructed to be quiet and avoid rattling, not an easy feat for a yacht.

Prince Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi royal family owns the Prince Abdulaziz, a 147-meter (about 482-foot) superyacht — once the biggest yacht in the world. It was built in Denmark in 1984 and its exterior was designed by Maierform Maritime Technology GmbH. The Prince Abdulaziz was named after the son of the late Saudi Arabian King Fahd, who originally commissioned the yacht. The royal family uses the yacht both for official and recreational outings. 

Renowned British interior designer David Hicks, known for his use of contrasting contemporary and classic design and bold use of color and lighting, led the interior design and decor of this luxurious yacht, which took over a year to finish. The ship's truly opulent decor features grand chandeliers, intricate mosaic flooring, and the use of blues and golds throughout. It's no wonder the extravagant yacht is valued at $100 million. Interestingly, the yacht is just one owned by the royal family.

Foners of Spain

Foners, once known as Fortuna, is a motor yacht belonging to King Juan Carlos of Spain and accommodating up to eight guests and six crew members. The 45.5-meter (about 149-foot) yacht was built by Izar in 2000. At the time, it was known as the fastest superyacht in the world, reaching a speed of 65 knots. Donald L. Blount & Associates was responsible for the yacht's naval architecture. Studio Arch was enlisted for the exterior design, while the acclaimed Celeste Dell'Anna is credited with the interior design and decor.

Foners' interior highlights its large main saloon for dining and lounging, with its 46-inch TV and entertainment center. The interior's luxurious finishes include sycamore wood with stitched tan leather detailing. The four staterooms on board feature a luxurious primary suite, a VIP stateroom, and two twin-size staterooms, each equipped with an en-suite bath. A unique feature of the ship's design is that it's bulletproof, lined with Aramid fiber.

Back in 2013, the Spanish royal family decided to sell the yacht due to its high costs to maintain. However, the listing price has dropped multiple times over the years and, at least as of 2021, a buyer has not been found.

Her Majesty's Yacht Victoria and Albert II of Great Britain

Her Majesty's Yacht Victoria and Albert II is a historic yacht that belonged to the British royals during the 19th century. It was built and launched in 1855 at the HM Dockyard in Pembroke, England. In 1868, this well-used and enjoyed yacht underwent an extensive renovation and continued its regular operations until 1901. It was eventually dismantled in 1904.

Per the  Royal Collection Trust , Queen Victoria wanted the yacht to feel like a "home from home." Instead of going for the more ornate look, she wanted the Victoria and Albert II to be simple yet grand. Prince Albert was also said to have been involved with the design. Some rooms boasted maple walls while the dining saloon featured luxe red carpeting and sat 18 people. The queen herself once wrote, "It is indeed a most magnificent and enormous vessel. One feels quite lost in here!"

Stalca of Monaco

If you're a fan of Grace Kelly , you'll love this one. In 1971, the Stalca was commissioned and given to the Grimaldi royal family of Monaco for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace to enjoy. They used the yacht for vacationing and entertaining both their high society and Hollywood friends. The Stalca was named after the couple's three children: Prince Albert and Princesses Caroline and Stephanie.

The 24.6-meter (about 81-foot) classic motor yacht was built by Visch Holland. Stalca's four cabins, which can sleep eight people, include a lavish primary suite with an en-suite bathroom, a VIP suite also with a private bath, and two twin cabins with a shared bathroom. The main saloon is a large open space with a formal dining room and a relaxing lounge.

Though lovingly maintained over the years, the Stalca underwent a renovation in 2011, followed by another extensive renovation in 2016, which included new wiring, plumbing, and paint as well as other updates, while ensuring the vessel's historic and elegant interior was preserved. In 2019, the Stalca was sold to an unnamed buyer after being listed for €1.1 million.

Pacha III of Monaco

The Pacha III, completed in 1936, is a luxurious motor yacht constructed of aluminum. It was built by Camper & Nicholsons and designed by Charles E. Nicholson. Jacques Grange, however, was responsible for the interior design, which consists of a deck made of teak and a hull of steel. The Pacha III can accommodate seven crew members and nine guests.

In 1990, the yacht was purchased by Princess Caroline of Monaco and her late husband Stefano Casiraghi, who tragically died in a boating accident not long after. Perhaps as a distraction from her grief, the princess decided to carry out the renovations she and Stefano had planned. The deck was rebuilt in aluminum, and 2-meter-long (about 7-foot) stabilizers were added to the hull. Inside, Caroline removed the living room fireplace and transformed the radio room into a bathroom.

The interior of the hull was brought back to its former glory with exquisite materials including oak and mahogany. Cured handrails were added as well as paneled ceilings and marine lamps for a Victorian feel, though bright and colorful fabrics were included for pops of color. The ship features multiple spaces including a large saloon with double doors, summer lounge, luxurious primary suite, galley, wardroom, and crew cabins. As of this writing, the Pacha III continues to be enjoyed by the Monaco royal family and is often seen sailing throughout the Mediterranean.

The Royal Yacht Britannia Has a Fascinating History—Here's Everything You Should Know

It doesn't get more majestic than Queen Elizabeth II's yacht.

Seventy years ago, the Britannia began its journey as the royal yacht for Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family of the United Kingdom. Over the next 44 years she’d travel more than a million nautical miles and, in all her glamour and old world elegance, served as a residence that welcomed state visits from all over the world and family holidays alike. Then and now, she was and is a majestic symbol of the British Commonwealth and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II .

“Britannia is special for a number of reasons,” Prince Phillip once said. “Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace or just a house. The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia. As such she is a splendid example of contemporary British design and technology.”

Although she retired from service in 1997, today the Britannia, one of many of the world's grandest yachts , is docked in Edinburgh, where she is open as a visitors’ attraction and host of private events. Below we give you all the Royal Yacht Britannia facts you might want to know, from who owns the yacht now to why she was decommissioned to how fast she is to how to get tickets to visit. Britannia was, after all, the one place the queen said she could “truly relax,” so why not see why for yourself?

Royal Yacht Britania Facts and History

On February 4, 1952, John Brown & Co shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, received the order from the Admiralty to build a new Royal Yacht to travel the globe and double as a hospital ship in times of war, according to the royal yacht's website . King George VI passed away two days after, sadly, and so on April 16, 1953, the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II announced the yacht’s new name as the ship was revealed.

"I name this ship Britannia,” she said. “I wish success to her and all who sail in her." Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy in January 1954 and by April of that year sailed into her first overseas port: Grand Harbour, Malta.

The queen and The Duke of Edinburgh worked with interior designer Sir Hugh Casson for the ship to serve as both a functional Royal Navy vessel and an elegant royal residence. Queen Elizabeth II selected deep blue for Britannia’s hull, instead of the more traditional black. Its Naval crew included 220 Yachtsmen, 20 officers, and three season officers—plus a Royal Marines Band of 26 men during Royal Tours.

All of them might have had to change uniform up to six times a day, so the laundry service on board worked nonstop. The yacht also engaged in British overseas trade missions known as Sea Days and made an estimated £3 billion for the Exchequer between 1991 and 1995 alone.

The ship’s wheel was taken from King Edward VII’s racing yacht, also named Britannia, according to Boat International , and the 126-meter ship could reach speeds of 22.75 knots, or a seagoing cruising speed of 21 knots, according to Super Yacht Times . Other fun facts: The yacht could produce her own fresh water from sea water, and shouting was forbidden aboard to preserve tranquility, favoring hand signals for Naval orders instead.

Over the next 44 years, the Britannia would sail the equivalent of once around the world for each year, in total visiting 600 ports in 135 countries. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones were the first of four couples to honeymoon on the ship in 1960, gifting them all privacy to sail to secluded locations. Prince Charles and Princess Diana followed in 1981 on the Mediterranean as well as Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips before them in 1973 in the Caribbean and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986 in the Azores.

For family vacations aboard the ship, games, treasure hunts, plays, and picnics were organized, and on warm days the children could play in an inflatable paddling pool on the Verandah Deck.

In the Sun Lounge, the queen especially enjoyed taking breakfast and afternoon tea with views through large picture windows, a space you can see replicated in the TV show The Crown. Although no filming took place on board the Britannia for the show, researchers ensured scenes aboard it were accurate. In the queen’s bedroom, the resemblance is seen down to the decorative wall light fittings and embroidered silk panel above her bed that had been specially commissioned.

In 1997, the ship was decommissioned after the government decided the costs to refit it would be too great. On its final day in her service that followed a farewell tour around the U.K., the queen openly wept as the Band of HM Royal Marines played "Highland Cathedral."

"Looking back over 44 years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction," Queen Elizabeth II said. All clocks on the ship stopped at 15:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked from the yacht for the final time, and they would remain at that time until the present.

How to Tour the Royal Yacht Britania

Today the yacht is owned by Royal Yacht Britannia Trus t, and all revenue it generates goes to the yacht’s maintenance and preservation. Ticketed entry allows you to step into state rooms like the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room and State Drawing Room, in addition to the working side of the ship in the Crew’s Quarters, Laundry and gleaming Engine Room. Along the way you will see original artifacts from the shop—95 percent of which is on loan from The Royal Collection.

How to Visit the Royal Britania

You can visit the Britannia any day of the year on Edinburgh’s waterfront. Hours vary by season, and you can find them listed and purchase tickets on the yacht’s website . Private tours are also available, and you can visit the Royal Deck Tearoom, where the Royal Family hosted cocktail parties and receptions, for drinks, meals and scones. Additionally, the Britannia hosts special ticketed events for New Year’s and other occasions, and event spaces can be booked as well.

While you are in Edinburgh, you can also stay on the Fingal , a neighboring yacht-turned-floating-hotel, which is a seven-minute walk from the Britannia, and dine at its Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, which serves breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, and cocktails.

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What to Know About the Royal Yacht Britannia Featured on 'The Crown' Season 5

The Royal Yacht Britannia served as the official royal yacht of the British monarchy for 44 years

The Crown is diving into royal events from the '90s in season 5 , and that includes the decommissioning of Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia.

In the first episode of the new season, Claire Foy ( who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in seasons 1 and 2) reprises her role as the monarch as a flashback shows the yacht's official launch in April 1953.

At the time, the new yacht held special significance as it was launched by the Queen just before her own coronation in June 1953 .

Through the years, the vessel sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the royal family as they entertained prime ministers and presidents, per the Royal Yacht Britannia website. It also served as the venue for several royal honeymoons , including Princess Diana and Princes Charles in 1981 .

From when it was commissioned to where the Royal Yacht Britannia is now, here's everything to know about the royal yacht.

When was the Royal Yacht Britannia commissioned?

As shown on The Crown , Royal Yacht Britannia was officially launched on April 16, 1953 , at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, where Queen Elizabeth unveiled the yacht's official name.

Following Queen Elizabeth 's coronation on June 2, 1953, the Royal Yacht Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy on January 11, 1954, before sailing her first overseas port on April 22.

How big is the Royal Yacht Britannia?

The Royal Yacht Britannia is about 412 feet long , with a beam width of 55 feet and five decks , and weighs over 4,000 tons.

Who used the Royal Yacht Britannia?

The yacht was described as the royal family's "floating residence" during its 44 years of service. As it was used to host "magnificent state receptions and banquets, and guests ," numerous world leaders boarded the yacht over the years, including Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan and Rajiv Gandhi.

Per the Royal Yacht Britannia website, the yacht also " allowed the Royal Family some rare privacy away from their public duties and was famously described by HM Queen Elizabeth II as 'the one place I can truly relax.' "

Furthermore, the Royal Yacht Britannia was the venue of four royal honeymoons : Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. All four royal marriages ended in divorce, which Queen Elizabeth famously reflected on in her 1992 speech where she referred to the past year as her "annus horribilis ," or horrible year.

When was the Royal Yacht Britannia decommissioned?

The yacht's retirement was announced in 1994 as a result of the substantial costs needed to repair the ship. It was estimated that the cost would £17 million, which would only prolong the yacht for another five years.

On December 11, 1997, the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned during an official ceremony that was attended by most of the senior members of the royal family. It was been reported that Queen Elizabeth was seen uncharacteristically shedding a tear during the decommissioning.

"Looking back over 44 years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction," the Queen said at the time .

Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia now?

Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, people can now visit the Royal Yacht Britannia at Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland. Visitors are able to see various parts of the yacht including Britannia's five decks, the state apartments, as well as the Sun Lounge, which was the Queen's favorite room in which to have her afternoon tea.

Does the Royal Yacht Britannia have a successor?

Plans for a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia first began in 2019 when it was reported that the late Sir Donald Gosling had donated £50 million to pay for the construction . In 2021, the yacht was commissioned by Boris Johnson to host trade fairs and diplomatic events and it was expected to go into service in 2024 or 2025.

However, in November 2022, it was reported by BBC that plans for the yacht were being scrapped as the government "searches for spending cuts." The new yacht was estimated to cost up to £250 million.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Tel: 0131 555 5566 Email us: [email protected]

Britannia will be closed 11-23 March and 25-28 June due to the redevelopment of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre

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Did you know?

The ‘Yotties’, the Royal Yachtsmen, had a daily rum ration up until the 1970s.

Once the Royal Family stopped bringing a Rolls Royce on board, the Garage was used as a beer store.

Former Royal Yachtsmen

During Britannia's 44 years in service, there were an estimated 3,295 crew who proudly served aboard the Royal Yacht.

Below are lists of the former Officers and Royal Yachtsmen. They were meticulously compiled over a five year period by M J Hill  [Lt Cdr Royal Navy, LSA (S) HM Yacht Britannia 1960-63]. We are very grateful to him for his dedication to this project which was first published in October 2013.  Please note that this list generally reflects when someone joined Britannia, be it for the first, second, or third time, and what their role was at that time, it does not always take into account any subsequent promotions gained whilst aboard.

Royal Yachtsmen (alphabetical order) Royal Yachtsmen (date joined)

Visiting Britannia

Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023

Due to upcoming construction work at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre , Britannia will be closed 11 - 23 March and 25-28 June.

Click on the Visit page  for all you need to know before you visit.

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

Fingal Hotel

Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal.  Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. 

AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

Learn more: fingal.co.uk

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A New Royal Yacht Is Coming

• By Phil Draper
• January 7, 2022

There are yachts, and there are superyachts, but royal yachts tend to be something else again. The United Kingdom hasn’t had a royal yacht for almost 25 years, but the British government just announced its intention to replace Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia .

No firm details have been released of what this replacement could be, but design proposals were recently invited. Time is of the essence, given that the official policy statement came with a proposed launch date just three years away.

The open brief suggests that what is needed now is less yacht, more national ship—a world-first build. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he sees the vessel as more of a floating embassy to support royals and government ministers alike.

That concept is broadly familiar. During its 44-year service life as a ship of state, Britannia racked up more than 1 million nautical miles and 696 foreign visits. Every itinerary was about promoting the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and trade promotion was always a part of the job description. For instance, Britannia made several trips to the United States, including both coasts and Chicago via the St. Lawrence Seaway. Various presidents and their wives were guests aboard, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

But what defines a royal yacht?

It’s not just about scale, although the eight-deck, all-steel Britannia was one of the biggest yachts in the world when it launched. It was built at Scotland’s John Brown and Co. of Clydebank, the same yard that built the ocean liners RMS Queen Elizabeth and RMS Queen Mary . Britannia entered service in January 1954, one year after Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Her late husband, Prince Philip, was a former naval officer and enthusiastically oversaw Britannia’s specification and construction.

The yacht, beyond its routine duties, could rapidly convert to a 200-bed hospital ship or an offshore refuge for the royal family in case of nuclear war. Britannia is 412 feet length overall, has a 55-foot beam and measures 5,862 gross tons. Thanks to two turbine sets producing up to 12,000 hp, Britannia was capable of a continuous 21 knots throughout its service years.

Those were the days when a yacht of that size was unusual: There are now almost 30 giga-yachts afloat with more gross tonnage than Britannia . Only a quarter of them have any obvious royal affiliations.

But in its day, Britannia was an operation to behold. The yacht was home to 21 officers and 256 sailors of the British Royal Navy and could host functions with 250 guests. The staterooms and staff quarters were aft, and the crew were forward. The yacht’s complement included a Royal Marines guard detachment in separate onboard barracks, a 26-strong military band, and a full general surgery team with an operating theater. The permanent noncommissioned crew were known affectionately as the “yotties.”

Britannia was where the most senior members of the royal family stayed when on suitable official visits. It was not where they would normally spend vacations, although Prince Charles and Princess Diana famously used Britannia for a honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean. They had the yacht’s only double bed installed aboard.

As for Britannia’s successor, various sources have quoted ballpark figures for the build in the low hundreds of millions of dollars. The final specification will depend on how much space is practical for conference and entertainment areas, the number of guest staterooms, the crew complement, helicopter use, tenders, provisions, technology, and security. Johnson also says he wants the vessel to incorporate cutting-edge green technologies and showcase best practices with regard to sustainability.

The new yacht is expected to have a service life of at least 30 years. Given that trillions of dollars’ worth of trade deals were reportedly secured aboard Britannia , the cost for that lifespan is not expected to be a concern.

Construction could start as early as next year, following consultations with the royal family, the Royal Navy and various government departments. The vessel will officially be the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense and classified as if it were a warship.

Floating History

Now retired, royal yacht Britannia lies permanently in Edinburgh, Scotland. This vessel has been one of the Scottish capital’s most popular tourist draws for more than 25 years. It is open daily and sees more than 1,000 visitors a day. Guided tours take in all areas, including a view into the queen’s bedroom, private sitting rooms, state dining room and drawing rooms, sun lounge and veranda, bridge, crew decks, and engine room.

The First Royal Yacht

The wooden wheel aboard Britannia came from the only other royal yacht to bear the name, the much older 122-foot gaff-rigged cutter Britannia . Built for Prince Albert Edward, who later became King Edward VII, it was famously campaigned at big-boat

regattas by him and his son, King George V. The yacht launched in spring 1893 and was a near-sister to Valkyrie II , which unsuccessfully challenged the Nathanael Greene Herreshoff-built Vigilant for the America’s Cup that same year. Both Valkyrie II and Britannia

were designed by George Lennox Watson and built at the D&W Henderson Shipyard in Scotland. Following George V’s death and per his wishes, the vessel was stripped of its spars and fitting, and scuttled in deep water off England’s South Coast on July 10, 1936.

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