royal yacht britannia in australia

Dickie Arbiter: 'To the royal family, the Britannia was more than a vessel'

By Dickie Arbiter | 5 months ago

HMY – or, to give it its full name, Her Majesty's Royal Yacht Britannia - was decommissioned from the Royal Navy in December 1997.

Barely 10 months later, rather than face being scuttled or ending up in a scrap yard, she became, on 19 October 1998, a major tourist attraction in Leith, Scotland.

But I do wonder, when discussing Britannia, what immediately comes to mind. Luxury? Opulence? Royals swanning around the world? An unnecessary expense?

Well, Britannia was none of those. She justified her existence during decades of service to the late Queen Elizabeth the Second, the wider royal family and the United Kingdom.

READ MORE: The 30-year-old royal tradition that began with a disaster

For the past 25 years, she has given pleasure to hundreds of thousands of visitors given a glimpse of what royal life was like aboard this floating palace, described once by the late Queen as being "the one place where I can truly relax."

Launched at the John Brown shipyard on Clydebank in Scotland in April 1953, Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy in January 1954, and three months later she sailed for Malta's Grand Harbour on her first overseas visit. 

In over four decades of Royal service HMY sailed the equivalent of once around the world for each year. She called at over 650 ports in 135 countries, including Australia, New Zealand the United States of America, and Canada.

She was the perfect venue for State Visits, official receptions and a proud ambassador generating billions of pounds in trade deals for the UK.

READ MORE: Charles' first year as King: 'Elizabeth II was always going to be a hard act to follow'

For the Royal Family and 220 dedicated crew of Royal Yachtsmen or 'Yachties' as they liked to be called, she was 'home'.

I first saw the Yacht in 1986 in Guangzhou during the late Queen's historic State Visit to China, the first ever by a British monarch – I was there as a broadcast journalist covering the visit.

At the end of the tour, the shiny blue painted hulled ship slipped her lines to convey the Royal party to Hong Kong for the second leg of the East Asian tour. A few days earlier, in Shanghai, Britannia became a floating conference venue.

With a party of British businesspeople together with their Chinese opposites and sponsorship by the UK's Department of Trade and Industry, the Yacht set sail for the East China Sea, returning to Shanghai at sunset.

The result of the away-day at sea? Delegates aboard having been royally fed and watered, concluded multi-million-dollar trade deals as the ship justified its presence in China.

My first visit in Britannia was having received an invitation to a reception during the late Queen's 1988 bicentennial tour of Australia. Yes, I did say in , as The Royal Yacht was always designated a royal palace, and one goes into a palace and not on it. 

At the time, I was still a broadcast journalist reporting on HMQ's three-week long 'royal progress,' even though on the eve of my departure from London I had been approached about joining the Buckingham Palace communications team.

Before the Sydney reception, I had a brief chat about the job offer with HM's Private Secretary, Australian Sir William Heseltine, after which I joined Australia's 'great and the good' milling around the Yacht's state rooms and veranda deck while the Queen and Prince Philip did the rounds talking to their guests. 

I have many happy memories in the Yacht, with one standing out over others. It was in Canada in 1991 with the then Prince of Wales and the late Diana Princess of Wales.

Of the 25 overseas royal tours I did with them as their press secretary, I was always part of the tour planning party, which included joining a small advance team prior to their arrival.

Our base in Canada, Toronto to be precise, was in HMY. The Yacht commanders were always Rear-Admirals serving a five-year posting, although the last incumbent was a Commodore seeing out the ship's final two years of service. 

Dinner entertainment was provided by the Admiral and at the last night dinner before the arrival of the principals, the Admiral went around the table asking each one of us if we had a favourite meal.

I had once lived in Zimbabwe and every Christmas my poolside breakfast, it was in summer after all, consisted of half a grapefruit, kippers, toast, and champagne. I think I may have won the prize that night for the most original meal.

The next morning as we all gathered for breakfast, what was on the menu? Grapefruit, kippers, toast, and champagne. The Admiral won the prize for the most original breakfast in Britannia.

The Yacht, while used extensively by, but not exclusively by the late Queen, was also a shop window for British trade.

We should remember HMY was a Royal Navy vessel crewed by RN sailors and could, in the event of an outbreak in hostilities, be converted into a hospital ship with space for two hundred patients.

Fortunately, she was only required to deviated once from her royal role and that was in January 1986 during the South Yemen civil war, when she was ordered to evacuate British nationals and others trapped by fighting. As a non-combatant Royal Navy vessel, Britannia was able to enter territorial waters without further inflaming the conflict.

Since the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 there have been 83 royal yachts. Charles II had 25, with five of them still in service in 1831. Since when, merchantmen or warships were occasionally pressed into Royal service.

The liner Ophir became HMS Ophir in 1901 and took the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, later King George V and Queen Mary,  on an extensive tour of the Empire taking in Australia, Gibraltar, Malta, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and Newfoundland.

Another tour saw the WWII battleship HMS Vanguard take King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret's on their 1947 Southern African tour.

There is currently no royal yacht, although since decommissioning there has been much media speculation the late Queen would have liked to have a replacement to Britannia.

As a very astute and pragmatic woman, she would never have been so presumptuous to have entertained such a thought, even though Britannia held many happy memories for her. 

Two years ago, the UK government announced plans for a new 'ship of state' to be managed jointly between the Ministries of Defence , the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for International Trade .

The plan for the ship was to be a venue for overseas trade fairs, ministerial summits, and diplomatic talks as well fulfilling the role of a Royal Yacht with the ship being crewed by the Royal Navy. The cost was estimated to be between $384 million and $480 million. 

Right now, the idea is on the back burner and to my mind, it may well stay there. 

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The Royal Yacht Britannia

A.N. Other · Jun 6, 1983 · Print This Page

FIJI, TONGA, NEW ZEALAND and AUSTRALIA: With the royal family visited Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia (where they took part in the bicentenary celebrations of the voyage of Captain Cook).

NORWAY and SCOTLAND: In September took part in a NATO maritime exercise in the North Sea from Norway to Scotland, acting as Commodore’s flagship in a convoy of merchantmen.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA: In January sailed to Thailand to take part in the royal tour of south-east Asia by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne. In addition to Thailand the itinerary included Singapore, Borneo, Brunei, Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. On the return journey visits were made to the Maldive Islands, the Seychelles and Mauritius, where the royal family disembarked.

NORTH ATLANTIC: Took part, in April, in a NATO exercise off the Portuguese coast.

FRANCE: In May made the passage to and from Rouen to embark the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh after the royal tour of France.

CHANNEL ISLANDS: Took part, in May, in the tour of the Channel Islands by Princess Anne.

NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA and THE FAR EAST: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh embarked in January at Christchurch, where the Queen had attended the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, for the royal tour of the Far East. In addition to New Zealand, the itinerary included visits to Australia, the Norfolk Islands, the New Hebrides, the British Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and the state visit to Indonesia.

AUSTRALIA, PACIFIC ISLES, NEW ZEALAND: Silver Jubilee visit (Australia March 7-30 1977).

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

By Lisa Liebman

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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The Royal Yacht Brittania, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Bain, Jack (1956) The Royal Yacht Brittania, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. [Image]

Prince Philip travelled in the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1956 to Australia (opening the 1956 Melbourne Olympics), Antarctica and beyond for several months without Queen Elizabeth. The Duke of Edinburgh called the lengthy trip a “diplomatic mission” and travelled forty thousand miles. His first stop in Australia was Brisbane, arriving on November 14th, 1956, to crowds of people lining the river banks.

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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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Photos show what it's like onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, the queen's 'floating palace' that she took on lavish vacations

• The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997.
• It's five stories tall, had more than 240 staff, and was known as the queen's "floating palace."
• Britannia is now anchored in Leith, Scotland, and reopens as a tourist attraction on May 12.

For 44 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia carried the queen and members of the royal family around the world.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia

Built in 1953, it logged more than 1 million miles and became known as the queen's "floating palace."

The five-story ship was part royal residence and part Royal Navy ship, with a full-time staff of more than 240 royal yachtsmen and officers.

The queen traveled on the ship for tours abroad, during which she would meet with dignitaries both on land and onboard.

She also used it for vacations like the royal family's annual summer cruise to the Western Isles of Scotland.

The queen once said that "Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax."

Four royal couples used the ship for their honeymoons, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.

In 1997, the Labour government decommissioned the ship, citing costs as a primary reason. The Britannia cost about £11 million to run each year, Reuters reported.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , Reuters

While the queen has yet to build a new yacht, that wasn't the end of the Royal Yacht Britannia.

One year later, it opened as a public museum in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The ship is set to reopen on May 12, almost six months after it closed in November due to the pandemic.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , BBC

Visitors will be able to step into spaces like the teak-lined sun lounge, the queen's favorite room, where she took her breakfast and afternoon tea.

The queen's bedroom, featuring a vanity table, writing desk, and twin bed, is also on display. The queen and Prince Philip slept separately while onboard the Britannia.

The largest room on the ship is the state dining room, where the queen entertained dignitaries like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher. The room could fit 56 guests.

Nearby is the state drawing room, which served as a place for the royal family to relax as well as a reception area for guests.

Toward the front of the ship are rooms where the staff lived and operated, like the 24-hour laundry room. Here, yachtsmen and officers would change outfits up to six times per day.

The former royal yachtsmen, known as "yotties," now reunite annually to help maintain the ship.

The clocks on the Royal Yacht Britannia don't get touched. They are permanently stopped at 3:01 p.m., the time when the queen stepped off the ship for the last time.

Prince Philip once said that the ship occupies a unique place in royal history. "Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace, or just a house," he said, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. "The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia."

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Queensland state archives, royal visits to queensland: an historical essay.

This article, by Margaret Cook, was originally published on the Queensland State Archives website, March 2011.

The first royal visitor to Australia was Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria (later to become the Duke of Edinburgh). A Royal Navy Captain on a world tour on board   HMS   Galatea   he visited Queensland in March 1868. During his visit,   The Brisbane Courier   reported a   restless, feverish excitement as seemed to pervade all classes during the whole time . His visit included a trip to Ipswich and Jondaryan and laying the foundation stone at the original Brisbane Grammar School site in Roma Street.

Princes Edward and George (aged 17 and 16 respectively) visited from 16 to 20 August 1881, while serving as midshipmen on   HMS Bacchante . A public holiday was declared and the Princes were greeted by cheering crowds and a fireworks display in the Domain within the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. The visit included a meeting with parliamentary representatives, a riding party, garden party (where the Princes played tennis), an “At Home” at Government House in George Street with up to 500 guests (where the Princes danced most dances), a picnic at Enoggera Reservoir for 200 people (where they rowed), a ride to One-Tree Hill (Mt Coot-tha) and a tree planting ceremony at Brisbane Grammar School of two figs labelled “Edward” and “George”. Prince George, the press recorded, had a ‘merry air and a very pleasant smile’.

In 1901 Prince George returned as the Duke of Cornwall and York, with his wife (later King George V and Queen Mary). His father’s (Edward VII) planned Empire tour was cancelled on the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901, prompting Prince George to visit Australia instead to open the first Federal Parliament in Melbourne. In Queensland from 20 to 25 May 1901, the Duke’s duties included the presentation of an address at Government House and laying the foundation stone of St John’s Cathedral. The royal couple opened the Brisbane Agricultural Show and attended a children’s fete and fireworks in the Domain, (where a children’s choir of 5000 performed) and a municipal concert in the Exhibition Hall. They travelled by train to Warwick with scheduled stops providing opportunities for more people to view the future King and Queen. A private shooting party was held for the Prince near Warwick.

Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) visited from 26 July to 5 August 1920 on behalf of his father, King George V, to thank Australians for the part they had played in World War I. Travelling by royal train Prince Edward visited Wallangarra; Warwick; Toowoomba; Gatton; Hendon; Clifton; Ipswich; Maryborough; Gympie; Nambour; Landsborough and Caboolture. Train platforms were decorated and the route was lined with ex-servicemen and loyal subjects. Special emphasis was given to meeting ex-servicemen, including visits to Amiens, Cottonvale and Beerburrum Soldier Settlements; Anzac House and Rosemount and Enoggera military hospitals.

A less strenuous visit than others, the Prince enjoyed the Ascot races (where he broke a track racing record) and a private visit to “Coochin Coochin” Homestead. Official functions included opening the Agricultural Show; laying the Brisbane City Hall foundation stone; dinner at the Queensland Club; Shakespearean, State and Governor’s Balls; State Banquet; a People’s Reception in the Botanic Gardens attended by 8000 children; a reception of 12,000 people in South Brisbane and a Citizens’ Garden Party at New Farm Park. 4   The Prince was met with a ‘general air of rapturous joy’ with flags and banners flying from every building. 5

The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth who became the Queen Mother) visited in 1927, their principal duty to open parliament in Canberra. Between 5 April and 12 April 1927 they travelled by train from Wallangarra to Toowoomba; Gatton to Beaudesert; Brisbane and Tweed Heads, stopping in between. The royals’ request for the tour was to see and be seen by as many people as possible and to meet returned soldiers, new settlers, war widows, bereaved mothers and school children. The Duke of York laid a wreath at the Toowong Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice and visited Rosemount Repatriation Hospital. A Vice-Regal Ball and state, civic and people’s receptions were held. They attended the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Show (the royal prefix was added in 1921) and watched school children perform. Private visits to “Coochin Coochin” near Boonah and “Tamrookum” near Beaudesert were enjoyed. The Duke was conferred with an honorary law degree by the University of Queensland.

The Duke of Gloucester, sent primarily to celebrate the centenary celebrations of Victoria, toured Australia in 1934. Travelling by train and car, he spent 10 days in Queensland. Arriving on 1 December 1934 he visited Wallangarra and Stanthorpe and spent the weekend at “Terrica” station near Stanthorpe. A civic reception and function in the showgrounds at Toowoomba; a visit to Gatton Agricultural College and the opening of the Sunshine Ward at Ipswich Hospital preceded a busy Brisbane itinerary of civic and state receptions, visits to the Exhibition grounds and the University of Queensland, dinners, lunches and balls including two in one night. On 10 December at Archerfield Aerodrome he declared the overseas service of Qantas open. The Duke visited the Cleveland and Redlands district, Nambour and Buderim before leaving on HMAS Australia.

Princess Elizabeth was en-route to Australia when her father died in 1952 and she returned to England. As a new monarch, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, toured Australia in 1954. The first visit to use air travel, it was an extensive and exhausting tour, including 33 flights, 130 hours of driving, train and boat travel. All capitals (except Darwin) and 70 country towns were visited, allowing about 75 per cent of the population to view the new Queen.

The Queensland portion of the “Royal Progress” was from 9 to 15 March 1954 and included Brisbane, Bundaberg, Oakey, Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton as well as a day of rest on the Great Barrier Reef. Public holidays were declared by an Act of Parliament; buildings were painted, decorated and illuminated for the visit and in all towns people turned out in droves to see the royals. In Brisbane a civic welcome, state reception, investiture, Executive Council meeting and Lord Mayor’s Ball were held. The tour was described as a magnificent success which ‘left an imperishable memory for Australians of our Queen and her husband.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother returned to Queensland from 18 until 21 February 1958. The visit was restricted to Brisbane and a return trip to “Coochin Coochin” Homestead. A civic welcome was held in nearby Boonah. In Brisbane a civic reception, state reception and functions at the Exhibition Grounds, Brisbane Cricket Grounds and the University of Queensland were held in her honour. Street and buildings were illuminated and decorated as Premier Frank Nicklin urged citizens to   Brighten-up for Royal Visit. 7

An extremely popular visit was that of Princess Alexandra of Kent in 1959. Heralded by Premier Nicklin as a   shining highlight of Queensland’s Centenary Year celebrations , the 22 year old Princess won hearts with her ‘girlish charm’ and ‘unaffected grace and simple dignity.’ 8   Her tour from 18 August to 9 September 1959 took her to Brisbane, Warwick, Oakey, Charleville, Longreach, Mt Isa, Mareeba, Atherton, Cairns, Townsville, Proserpine, Bowen, Lindeman Island, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Childers, Maryborough, Gympie, Nambour and Redcliffe (a 3000 mile tour). Princess Alexandra unveiled a mural on the State Library of Queensland at William Street; declared ANZAC House (new Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmens Imperial League of Australia (RSSAILA) headquarters) open and was conferred an honorary law degree from the University of Queensland. Such was her popularity that when she returned to Brisbane from her state tour, the streets were lined with 350 000 people from Redcliffe to Government House to welcome her “home”. 9   The   Alexandra Waltz was written and composed in her honour by prolific Queensland composer Clyde Collins. In 1960 the Diamantina Hospital was renamed Princess Alexandra Hospital in honour of her visit.

Designed to be less arduous with fewer formal functions than the 1954 tour, the 1963 tour by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh occurred between 6 to 8 March 1963 and only included Brisbane and Coolangatta. 10   An enormous crowd gathered at Brisbane City Hall for the Civic Reception. The tour included a citizens’ welcome reception at the Exhibition Grounds; a visit to the Queensland Spastic Centre; unveiling a cairn at Bulwer on Moreton Island commemorating the discovery of oil in Queensland; an investiture; surf carnival and children’s welcome at Brisbane Cricket Ground.

The Duke of Edinburgh has been the most frequent royal visitor to Queensland, both as Queen’s consort and as Patron of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. In 1967 he visited Brisbane when organising the third Commonwealth Study Conference.  He visited independently in 1971, 1973 and again in 1986 when he opened the Gateway Bridge over the Brisbane river on 11 January.

Prince Charles first visited Queensland unofficially in 1966 when studying at Timbertop, part of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria. He subsequently visited in 1974, 1977, 1979 and in 1983 with Princess Diana.

Queen Elizabeth II returned with the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne from 12 to 23 April 1970. Her duties included opening the Brisbane District Courts; an investiture; planting a tree in Longreach commemorating 50 years of Qantas; visiting the Royal Flying Doctors Base at Mt Isa and Lavarack Army Barracks at Townsville; proclaiming the independence of James Cook University in Townsville; unveiling a memorial stone at Cooktown where the   Endeavour   landed and opening the James Cook Museum in Cooktown. The Duke of Edinburgh presented his Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gold medals and had an underground tour in Mt Isa.

Princess Anne visited the Oasis Tourist Gardens at Sunnybank and planted a tree at the Cunnamulla Civic Centre. On 13 May the royal family attended a production by the Queensland Theatre Company, the only Australian theatre company to give a royal performance. In Brisbane HMS Britannia was used as the official residence. The royal family travelledby RAAF aircraft.

To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Queensland from 9 to 11 March 1977. A civic welcome was followed by dinner at Government House and a state reception at Cloudland Ballroom. The following day the duke presented his Duke of Edinburgh awards at Brisbane Grammar School with 400 guests present and attended a conference of capital city Lord Mayors. With Queen Elizabeth II, he attended a secondary schools carnival at Nathan (with 25,000 students present). A youth gathering at Government House was followed by dinner. The final day included unveiling a silver jubilee fountain at the new Queensland Cultural Centre in Brisbane and presenting art awards.

The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the Brisbane Commonwealth Games on 30 September 1982 at QEII Stadium, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. He read the Queen’s message which had been carried in a baton 15 000 kilometres from Buckingham Palace to Brisbane. Queen Elizabeth II officially closed the Games on 9 October 1982 and with the Duke, she was driven around the stadium several times while the Australian team formed a guard of honour running alongside the car. It was considered an iconic moment summing up the spirit of the games.

On 30 April 1988 the World Exposition (known as Expo 88) was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. In her opening speech she stated:

‘All those who visit it will take away lasting and affectionate memories of the warm welcome extended by the people of Brisbane and Queensland. I say that with great confidence, because each time I come here I am made to feel truly welcome. I am told you like to call your state the Sunshine State – but I prefer to think of it by its original name – “Queen’s Land”. 11

Other royals to have visited officially are Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (1964); Prince Henry and Princess Alice, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (1965); Prince Edward and Princess Katherine, Duke and Duchess of Kent (1985); Prince Andrew and Princess Sarah, Duke and Duchess of York (1988) and Princess Katherine, Duchess of Kent in 1988 and 1992.

In March 2011 Prince William visited Queensland to tour places damaged by floods and Cyclone Yasi.

During an official visit to Australia in October 2011 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip opened the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, the first time the event had been held in Australia since Queen Elizabeth II opened the 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting at Coolum, Queensland. The tour lasted from 19 to 29 October and, on 24 October, included a visit to Brisbane where the Queen attended a Queensland Government Reception for those affected by the natural disasters during the summer of 2010/11. Whilst in Brisbane, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh delighted crowds taking a cruise on the Brisbane River from Bretts Wharf to South Bank and strolling through the cultural forecourt at South Bank.

• The Brisbane Courier, 23 March 1868, p. 5.
• The Brisbane Courier, 18 August 1881, p. 3
• The Brisbane Courier, 31 July 1920, p. 5.
• The Brisbane Courier , 5 July 1920, p. 7.
• The Brisbane Courier, 28 July 1920, p. 4.
• EJ Harrison, Minister in Charge, Royal Visit, to Premier Vince Gair, 31 May 1954, Queensland State Archives Item ID 318693
• The Courier Mail, 4 January 1958. Cutting in Queensland State Archives Item ID 318717
• The Courier Mail, 9 September 1959.
• The Courier Mail, 5 September 1959.
• The Courier Mail, 12 November 1963.
• Foundation Expo 88, Opening Ceremony Speeches, National Day Speeches, Closing Ceremony Speeches , 1988

About Queensland State Archives

13 responses.

I have included your blog in Interesting Blogs in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at

http://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/friday-fossicking-jan-20th-2017.html

Thank you, Chris

Great memories and lots I didn’t realise

Thanks Chris, much appreciated!

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Princess Alexandra also went to Toowoomba in 1959.

I was a school cadet one of many lining Coronation Drive in Brisbane in 1954, we were all armed with Lee Enfield .303s including bolts. Imagine that now!! I remember going to the Carlton theatrette afterwards and leaving the rifle at the box office and then later going home with it on the tram.

Heath and Safety guidelines were certainly different then! Thanks for sharing.

I was looking for some pictures of my grandparents king George Doughboy and wife Annie taken at the Cooktown jetty to welcome the British king and queen in the 60’s or the 70’s.

Hey Adelaide. If you contact us at: [email protected] one of our archivists may be able to assist.

I was sure that, as a schoolboy, I saw Princess Alexandra in Toowoomba during her visit in 1959. Yet, in this article, Toowoomba is not listed among the towns she visited.

My mother now 93 remembers being told of Prince George’s visit to Laidley Train Station in 1927 and how the Prince noted her dad’s British medals and briefly spoke to him. Somewhere in my researching I have come across a picture of the people lined up at the old Laidley Station, but I can’t quite remember where.

I have a copy of the Courier Mail supplement of Edward V111’s visit to Queensland 1920 which includes the photograph featured here in “Royal Visits to Queensland: An historical essay”. Fantastic to look at it and remember that era.

I was an Alderman on the Toowoomba City Council in the early 70’s when his Royal Highness visited. A day or so prior to his visit the Mayor pulled out of a presention of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards at the Harristown High School. I prepared a speech at short notice and then presented the awards with a photo appearing in the Toowoomba Chronicle. I remember the Harristown School hall was packed with students and if I may say, the morning was a success. I often wonder where those students are now.

I can clearly remember being taken by my Grandfather (Jack Sills) to watch the Queen arriving at the RNA Showgrounds. We were in the very front standing near corner of Water Street and Brunswick Street. The mounted police guard came first and I was frightened by the HUGE horses but wouldn’t move as I wanted to see the Queen. I still cannot go near a horse to this day. God save the Queen

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The Story Behind the Royal Family's Yacht, Britannia

The ship hosted four royal honeymoons in its 44 years of service.

Often referred to as the last royal yacht, the Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, and despite some efforts , there are no signs of a new one in the near future. Though its seafaring days may be behind it (the ship now serves as a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland), the Britannia remains an important artifact and a peek behind the curtain of royal life—it even garnered a prominent place in the fifth season of The Crown . Below, a few of its most notable moments throughout history.

It was the first royal yacht designed for ocean travel.

The ship was built by John Brown & Co at the same shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland in the same location the famous ocean liners the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were constructed. With 12,000 horsepower, the ship could travel at a maximum 22.5 knots (approximately 25 miles per hour), ideal for ocean-going diplomacy. Prior to its launch in 1953, the royal family used ships from the Royal Navy or even passenger liners for the overseas portions of the royal tour.

In its 44 years of service, the HMY Britannia traveled around 1.1 million miles.

It was commissioned just two days before the death of King George VI.

The King was already in failing health by the time the designs for the HMY Britannia were submitted, and the hope was that traveling might help alleviate some of his symptoms. However, just two days after the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland received the order the King passed away on February 6, 1952.

It would take just over a year for the ship to be completed, during which time its name remained a secret—it wasn't announced until the ship's official launch in April of 1953, less than two months before the Queen's coronation . Elizabeth cracked a bottle of English wine (in the post-war era, champagne was considered too extravagant for the launch of a ship) and announced, "I name this ship Britannia … I wish success to her and all who sail in her."

It was created to double as a hospital.

When Britannia was first envisioned, less than a decade after the end of World War II, the designers sought to make it as functional as possible, crafting a space that could be converted from an ocean-going royal residence to a seafaring hospital during any possible future wartime. The main veranda was laid out and re-enforced so that it could support a helicopter landing and the laundry was made much larger than on a standard naval vessel to accommodate the potential patients. Though the ship was never actually put to that purpose, it was pressed into service on a rescue mission to help evacuate European nationals from South Yemen in 1986.

The ship was home to a lot of history.

Long before it became a floating museum, the Britannia had an eye for history. The gold and white binnacle housed on the ship's veranda deck was originally part of the HMY Royal George , a royal yacht that served Queen Victoria . Likewise, some of the bed linens used by Queen Elizabeth aboard the vessel were originally made for Victoria's bed for one of the previous royal yachts.

Britannia's steering wheel was lifted from her namesake, the racing yacht HMY Britannia , built in 1893 for King Edward VII .

It was redesigned to be less opulent.

Despite the sense of luxury that the term "royal yacht" inspires, the Queen and Prince Philip were actually concerned when they began overseeing the project in 1952 that the original interior design plans by the design firm McInnes Gardner & Partners were too lavish for a country still recovering from the war. The interiors were ultimately redesigned by Sir Hugh Casson and received very minimal updates throughout her 44 years of service.

But it still had homey touches—by royal standards.

Suffice to say that even low-key royal living is a fairly high class. In addition to the 56-seat State Dining Room, which hosted luminaries including Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, Nelson Mandela, and multiple US Presidents, the ship also sported a formal staircase where the Queen would greet guests, separate bedrooms and sitting rooms for both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, and a phone system designed to match the unique configurations of Buckingham Palace's telephones.

In the early years of the Britannia's life it was also home to the Queen's Rolls-Royce Phantom V which was hoisted and lowered from a special garage compartment at port so that the Queen could drive her own car at each location. The space was ever so slightly too small, forcing the bumpers to be removed in order to get it into the garage without damage and then refitted when the car was removed. Ultimately Elizabeth began using cars provided for her at port instead and the garage was converted into a storage area for beer.

The steering crew couldn't see where they were going.

Life on board the HMY Britannia was far from typical for her crew. To begin with, due to the prestige and pressure of the position, the commanding officer of the royal yacht was always a flag officer, most commonly a Rear Admiral, although the first two to serve were Vice Admirals, and Britannia 's final CO was a Commodore.

While working, the crew reportedly used hand signals to communicate rather than shouting orders, in order to maintain a sense of quiet and calm for the royal residents. It was also the last ship in the royal navy where the crew members slept in hammocks, a practice that they maintained until 1973.

Perhaps the most unusual element of the ship's functioning, though, was the steering. While on most ships, the steering wheel sits on the bridge, overlooking the front of the vessel, Britannia 's was on the deck below, in the wheelhouse, which meant that the yachtsmen who were actually doing the steering couldn't see where they were going. The crew got around this rather surprising pitfall by using voice pipes from the bridge to confer navigational orders.

It was a royal honeymoon essential.

No fewer than four royal couples celebrated their honeymoons in the HMY Britannia 's honeymoon suite (the only room onboard with a double bed.)

Princess Margaret started the tradition in 1960 for her Caribbean honeymoon with Anthony Armstrong-Jones , a quiet, formal affair where dinners were taken in full evening dress every night. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Princess Anne on her honeymoon with Captain Mark Phillips in 1973—storms and 20-foot waves left the couple stricken with seasickness for the first week of their Caribbean cruise. Prince Charles and Princess Diana famously spent their 1981 honeymoon on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the yacht. The crew managed to duck the press so efficiently they garnered the nickname "the ghost ship." The final royal honeymoon aboard the Britannia was taken by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson , Duchess of York in 1986 when the couple traveled around the Azores.

And a family vacation spot.

In addition to her diplomatic duties on royal tours and her service as a post-wedding retreat, the Britannia was also a vessel for family vacations. During the summer months, the royal family would often take off on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around the western isles of Scotland. During the trip, the family would play games and have barbecues on the islands. The stairway off of the veranda was sometimes even converted into a waterslide for the younger royals. The tour often included a stop off at the Castle of Mey to visit the Queen Mother, then making berth in Aberdeen so that the Queen could travel to her favorite summer home, Balmoral .

The Queen openly wept when HMY Britannia was decommissioned in 1997.

With so many memories around the yacht, it's not hard to understand why the decommissioning of the Britannia was upsetting for the royal family. Though plans were initially drawn up for a replacement yacht, the government ultimately determined not to fund the effort. After the Queen officially took her leave of it in 1997, the ship was placed in the port of Leith in Scotland where it serves as a floating museum and events venue . All of the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time.

It was used for a reception for Zara Phillips before her wedding.

Though it's no longer used as their private vessel, the Britannia 's connection to the royal family didn't end in 1997. In 2011 on the night before her wedding, the Queen's oldest granddaughter Zara Phillips contracted the ship for a reception. Though her grandmother wasn't in attendance Zara celebrated her upcoming marriage to Mike Tindall onboard along with her mother and her cousins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice.

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

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What Happened to the Royal Yacht Britannia?

By Elise Taylor

The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. The vessel serves as a—fairly obvious—metaphor in the first episode, where Imelda Staunton’s Queen Elizabeth describes it as “a floating, seagoing version of me.” The problem with her metaphorical marine self? It’s in desperate need of multi-million dollar repairs. 

She asks British prime minister John Major, played by Jonny Lee Miller, whether the government might be able to help foot the bill. He, in turn, asks if the royal family might front the cost, given the public pushback they both might receive if such a seemingly extravagant project was approved. In the final episode of the season (a note to the reader: spoilers will follow), Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth agree to decommission the yacht after Prince Charles’s trip to Hong Kong.

The Crown is known for taking much of its plot material from real-life events. In the case of the Royal Yacht Britannia, though—what really happened to the boat, and how much political controversy did it really cause?

To go back to the beginning, King George VI first commissioned the royal yacht that would become the Britannia in 1952. It was an exciting project, as the previous official boat had belonged to Queen Victoria, and was rarely used. (Queen Victoria, for one, did not like the water and never sailed.) Then, during the early 20th century, England was mostly at war, and making a massive, slow-sailing luxury ship would be a massive security risk in international waters. 

The Royal Yacht Britannia, George decided, should both be an extravagant vessel and a functional one, able to double as a hospital if times of war were to arise again. In 1953, the newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth christened the ship with a bottle of wine, as champagne was still seen as too extravagant post-war. In 1954, she set sail for the first time.

The Royal Yacht fulfilled many functions, most of them leisurely. Over the years, the boat hosted four royal honeymoons, including that of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, as well as many family vacations. In 1969, after his investiture as the Prince of Wales, Charles hosted an intimate party on board to celebrate. (Newspapers at the time wrote that he danced with his dear friend Lucia Santa Cruz —the very person who eventually introduced him to Camilla Parker Bowles.)

It also served as a grandiose mode of transport for many royal visits. In 1959, for example, Britannia sailed to Chicago to celebrate the recently-opened St. Lawrence seaway in Canada, and President Eisenhower joined her on board. Twenty years later, she sailed to Abu Dhabi for her first official visit to the United Arab Emirates, where she held a grand dinner for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

And although Queen Elizabeth's reign was not during wartime, the royal yacht did execute a humanitarian mission, as King George VI had always planned for: In 1986, it sailed to Aden to evacuate over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Yemen.

The New York Times once described the 412-foot Britannia as “an ordinary yacht what Buckingham Palace is to the house next door.” It wasn’t an exaggeration—Britannia was essentially a floating palace. It had a drawing room, a dining room, two sitting rooms, as well as galleys and cabins for all the officers. The stateroom interiors were just as ornate as any other royal estate, while the bedrooms—which all had their own bathrooms and dressing rooms—were designed to feel surprisingly personal. 

By Kerry McDermott

By Hannah Coates

By Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

“Within the royal apartments, however, the regal elegance gives 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—shark's teeth from the Solomon Islands here, a golden urn commemorating Nelson's victory at Trafalgar there,” the New York Times found when it boarded the ship in 1976.

The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. Politicians raised questions about its financial value as far back as 1954, when two MPs lobbied for an investigation on why the yacht’s refurbishment would cost 5.8 million pounds, accusing the royal family of waste and extravagance. A government committee later dismissed the accusations. In 1994, the Conservative government ruled the yacht too costly to refurbish, when repairs came in at a whopping 17 million, but then briefly walked back on their decision a few years later. 

However, when Tony Blair’s Labour government won the election, and the new government once again declined to pay for Britannia. Britannia’s final journey was to far-flung Hong Kong in 1997, as Prince Charles turned over the British colony back to the Chinese at the end of Britain's 99-year lease. When they finally decommissioned the boat that summer, the queen cried—one of the few times she’s shown emotion in public. The boat had logged over one million nautical miles.

Today, Britannia sits permanently docked in Edinburgh. Visitors can take tours of its grand galleys, or even rent it out for events. Yet, despite its retirement, the concept of the royal yacht lives on: In 2021, Boris Johnson floated the idea of a new boat. However, a mere eight days ago, Rishi Sunak has scrapped the project—showing that, even now, the concept remains a controversial one.

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

• 20th Century

10 Facts About Royal Yacht Britannia

Peta Stamper

28 nov 2022.

The 83rd and last in a long line of royal yachts, HMY Britannia has become one of the most famous ships in the world. Now permanently moored at Edinburgh’s Port of Leith, the floating palace is a visitor attraction welcoming some 300,000 people aboard each year.

For Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia was the ideal residence for state visits and peaceful royal family holidays and honeymoons. For the British public, Britannia was a symbol of Commonwealth. For the 220 naval officers who lived aboard Britannia , and the royal family, the 412-foot-long yacht was home.

Having travelled more than a million nautical miles over 44 years of service to the British Crown, Her Majesty’s beloved boat was decommissioned in 1997. Here are 10 facts about life aboard HMY Britannia.

1. Britannia was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953 using a bottle of wine, not champagne

Champagne is traditionally smashed against a ship’s hull during launching ceremonies. However, in a post-war climate champagne was seen as too frivolous, so a bottle of Empire wine was used instead.

Britannia launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland.

2. Britannia was the 83rd Royal Yacht

King George VI , Elizabeth II’s father, had first commissioned the royal yacht that would become Britannia in 1952. The previous official boat had belonged to Queen Victoria and was rarely used. The tradition of royal yachts had been started by Charles II in 1660.

George decided that the Royal Yacht Britannia should both be a regal vessel as well as a functional one.

3. Britannia had two emergency functions

Britannia was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war, although that function was never used. Additionally, as part of the Cold War plan Operation Candid, in the event of nuclear war the ship would become a refuge off the north-west coast of Scotland for the Queen and Prince Philip.

4. Her maiden voyage was from Portsmouth to Grand Harbour in Malta

She carried Prince Charles and Princess Anne to Malta to meet the Queen and Prince Philip at the end of the royal couple’s Commonwealth tour. The Queen stepped aboard Britannia for the first time in Tobruk on 1 May 1954.

Over the next 43 years, Britannia would transport the Queen, members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries on some 696 foreign visits.

The HMY Britannia on a visit by the Queen to Canada in 1964

Image Credit: Royal Canadian Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

5. Britannia hosted some of the 20th century’s most notable figures

In July 1959, Britannia sailed the newly opened Saint Lawrence Seaway to Chicago where she docked, making the Queen the first British monarch to visit the city. US President Dwight Eisenhower hopped aboard Britannia for part of the journey.

In later years, Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton would also step aboard. Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, took their honeymoon cruise on Britannia in 1981.

6. The crew were volunteers from the Royal Navy

After 365 days’ service, crew members could be admitted to the Permanent Royal Yacht Service as Royal Yachtsmen (‘Yotties’) and serve until they either chose to leave or were dismissed. As a result, some yachtsmen served on  Britannia  for over 20 years.

The crew also included a detachment of Royal Marines, who would dive underneath the ship each day while moored away from home to check for mines or other threats.

7. All royal children were allocated a ‘Sea Daddy’ on board the ship

The ‘sea daddies’ were primarily tasked with looking after the children and keeping them entertained (games, picnics and water fights) during voyages. They also oversaw the children’s chores, including cleaning the life rafts.

8. There was a ‘Jelly Room’ onboard for the royal children

The yacht had a total of three galley kitchens where Buckingham Palace ‘s chefs prepared meals. Among these galleys was a chilled room called the ‘Jelly Room’ for the sole purpose of storing royal children’s jellied desserts.

9. It cost around £11 million every year to run Britannica

The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. In 1994, another expensive refit for the ageing vessel was proposed. Whether or not to refit or commission a new royal yacht entirely came down to the election result of 1997. With repairs at a proposed cost of £17 million, Tony Blair’s new Labour government were unwilling to commit public funds to replace Britannica.

HMY Britannia in 1997, London

Image Credit: Chris Allen, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

10. All the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01pm

In December 1997,  Britannia was officially decommissioned. The clocks have been kept at 3:01pm – the exact moment the Queen went ashore for the last time following the ship’s decommissioning ceremony, during which the Queen shed a rare public tear.

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What Happened To The Royal Yacht Britannia?

By Elise Taylor

The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. The vessel serves as a – fairly obvious – metaphor in the first episode, where Imelda Staunton’s Queen Elizabeth describes it as “a floating, seagoing version of me.” The problem with her metaphorical marine self? It’s in desperate need of multi-million pound repairs. 

She asks British prime minister John Major, played by Jonny Lee Miller, whether the government might be able to help foot the bill. He, in turn, asks if the royal family might front the cost, given the public pushback they both might receive if such a seemingly extravagant project was approved. In the final episode of the season (a note to the reader: spoilers will follow), Tony Blair and Queen Elizabeth agree to decommission the yacht after Prince Charles’s trip to Hong Kong.

The Crown is known for taking much of its plot material from real-life events. In the case of the Royal Yacht Britannia, though – what really happened to the boat, and how much political controversy did it really cause?

To go back to the beginning, King George VI first commissioned the royal yacht that would become the Britannia in 1952. It was an exciting project, as the previous official boat had belonged to Queen Victoria, and was rarely used. Then, during the early 20th century, England was mostly at war, and making a massive, slow-sailing luxury ship would be a massive security risk in international waters. 

The Royal Yacht Britannia, George decided, should both be an extravagant vessel and a functional one, able to double as a hospital if times of war were to arise again. In 1953, the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth christened the ship with a bottle of wine, as champagne was still seen as too extravagant post-war. In 1954, she set sail for the first time.

The Royal Yacht fulfilled many functions, most of them leisurely. Over the years, the boat hosted four royal honeymoons, including that of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, as well as many family vacations. In 1969, after his investiture as the Prince of Wales, Charles hosted an intimate party on board to celebrate. (Newspapers at the time wrote that he danced with his dear friend Lucia Santa Cruz – the very person who eventually introduced him to Camilla Parker Bowles.)

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It also served as a grandiose mode of transport for many royal visits. In 1959, for example, Britannia sailed to Chicago to celebrate the recently opened St Lawrence seaway in Canada, and President Eisenhower joined her on board. Twenty years later, she sailed to Abu Dhabi for her first official visit to the United Arab Emirates, where she held a grand dinner for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

And although Queen Elizabeth's reign was not during wartime, the royal yacht did execute a humanitarian mission, as King George VI had always planned for: In 1986, it sailed to Aden to evacuate over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Yemen.

The New York Times once described the 412-foot Britannia as “an ordinary yacht what Buckingham Palace is to the house next door.” It wasn’t an exaggeration – Britannia was essentially a floating palace. It had a drawing room, a dining room, two sitting rooms, as well as galleys and cabins for all the officers. The stateroom interiors were just as ornate as any other royal estate, while the bedrooms – which all had their own bathrooms and dressing rooms – were designed to feel surprisingly personal. 

“Within the royal apartments, however, the regal elegance gives 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 – shark’s teeth from the Solomon Islands here, a golden urn commemorating Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar there,” the New York Times found when it boarded the ship in 1976.

The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. Politicians raised questions about its financial value as far back as 1954, when two MPs lobbied for an investigation on why the yacht’s refurbishment would cost £5.8 million, accusing the royal family of waste and extravagance. A government committee later dismissed the accusations. In 1994, the Conservative government ruled the yacht too costly to refurbish, when repairs came in at a whopping 17 million, but then briefly walked back on their decision a few years later. 

However, when Tony Blair’s Labour government won the election, and the new government once again declined to pay for Britannia. Britannia’s final journey was to far-flung Hong Kong in 1997, as Prince Charles turned over the British colony back to the Chinese at the end of Britain’s 99-year lease. When they finally decommissioned the boat that summer, the queen cried – one of the few times she’s shown emotion in public. The boat had logged over one million nautical miles.

Today, Britannia sits permanently docked in Edinburgh. Visitors can take tours of its grand galleys, or even rent it out for events. Yet, despite its retirement, the concept of the royal yacht lives on: In 2021, Boris Johnson floated the idea of a new boat. However, a mere eight days ago, Rishi Sunak has scrapped the project – showing that, even now, the concept remains a controversial one.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia: discover its history

Once home to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her family, the Royal Yacht Britannia is now moored at Leith the port of Edinburgh.

©Mark Millar, Royal Yacht Britannia

The Role of the Royal Yacht Britannia in the British Royal Family

The yacht provided a sanctuary for the royal family offering them a respite from the demands of public life. It allowed them to escape the prying eyes of the media and enjoy moments of relaxation and privacy.

As they travelled the world it was, said the queen, the one place she could truly relax.

Today the world’s most famous yacht is an Edinburgh five-star visitor attraction and exclusive events venue.

the Royal Yacht Britannia history

Plans to build a new yacht to replace the ageing Victoria and Albert III had first been considered in 1938 during the reign of King George VI but in austere pre-war Britain, it didn’t seem appropriate.

However in 1951, with the king’s health failing, the government decided to push ahead with their plans for a new ship. Sadly King George died before the work was completed.

construction and design of the Royal Yacht Britannia

Like two of the other great ocean-going passenger liners, the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II, the royal yacht’s life began on the River Clyde. 

It was built in John Brown’s shipyard in Clydebank near Glasgow and launched on 16 April 1953.

Following sea trials, the ship was commissioned into the Royal Navy the following year.

It was the latest in a long line of royal yachts that stretched back to the seventeenth century when the Dutch gave the world’s first royal yacht Mary to Charles II as a gift.

Original designs of the ship had specified a dual role – a hospital ship to be used in times of conflict and a royal yacht. She was never used in the former capacity.

However, in 1986, during a voyage to Australia, without the Queen aboard, the ship diverted to Aden to help in the evacuation of those trapped on the beaches by an ongoing war in the region.

Over 1,000 terrified people were rescued and crammed into every available space.

Both the Queen and Prince Philip took a keen interest in the design of the vessel, working with Sir Hugh Casson on plans for the interior decorations.

The young couple selected fabrics, furniture and paintings, many of them taken from the Victoria and Albert III in an effort to keep costs under control.

The state apartments aft of the funnel were not extravagantly decorated.  Instead, they have a traditional ‘country house’ feel, particularly in the drawing room where chintz-covered armchairs and sofas sit on a plain silver-grey carpet overlaid by a magnificent Persian rug. 

A baby grand piano stood in the corner often providing after-dinner entertainment. Princesses Diana, Margaret and Alexandra were all known to enjoy playing. 

Famous guests aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia

Writer Brian Hoey reminds us of the night Sir Noel Coward came to dinner during a Caribbean cruise. 

“He literally sang for his supper, playing many of his own compositions into the wee small hours. Even on the royal yacht, there was no such thing as a free meal.” 

Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor also pulled up a chair in the State Dining Room.

Of course, they weren’t the only well-known people to visit the yacht.

Over the years Rajiv Gandhi, Sir Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela were only a few of the others on a long list of the world’s most powerful people who enjoyed royal hospitality.

© Mark Millar, Royal Yacht Britannia

Supper’ in Britannia’s dining room could be a splendid occasion. In preparation for a state banquet, Royal Navy stewards would lay the burnished mahogany table with military precision. 

They would carefully place the floral decorations, candelabras and exquisite crystal wine glasses.

With a ruler in hand, they measured the precise position of each shining piece of silver cutlery. Menus were printed and seating plans were discussed before Britannia set sail. 

The Queen and Prince Philip had their own bedrooms and sitting rooms, decorated to reflect their personal taste. The Queen preferred chintz and floral while the Duke liked the more functional wood panelling. 

This elegant lady became a favourite with all generations of the royal family but particularly the Queen who always said it was the only place she could truly be at ease.

Honeymoons at Sea

Four royal couples opted for a honeymoon at sea, onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.

They were Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

Princess Diana

A young Princess Diana was happiest when proceedings were kept informal, she was a very special guest as far as the naval crew were concerned. 

On one memorable occasion, she was found in the Junior Ratings Mess leading the crew, or yachtsmen, as they were called, in a rendition of What , Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor. 

One remark in particular sums up the feeling and affection the crew had for her.  “There are 275 men aboard and every one of them is in love with Princess Diana.”

It’s fitting that Prince William and Prince Harry, who often spent their summer holidays on trips to the Western Isles of Scotland loved the freedom and privacy the royal yacht allowed them.

Ambassador for Britain

Beyond its role as a private residence, it was an unofficial ambassador for Britain serving as a platform for diplomatic and official engagements.

Britannia undertook numerous state visits, carrying the royal family and government officials to countries around the world. The yacht became a powerful symbol of British soft power, projecting an image of elegance, grace, and stability to the international community.

On what became known as Sea Days, it would throw open the doors to the world of commerce.

That allowed businessmen to showcase the best of British craftsmanship and design and promote their companies and products to the world.

The yacht became a floating showroom for British excellence, helping to boost exports and attract foreign investment.

The Overseas Trade Board estimated that between 1991 and 1995 the exchequer benefited to the tune of £3 billion.

Decommissioning and the transformation into a visitor attraction

After over four decades of service, the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in Portsmouth on 11 December 1997.

During that long service, the ship sailed over one million nautical miles stopping at 600 ports in 135 countries. 

Rather than being sold or scrapped, the decision was made to preserve the yacht as a visitor attraction, allowing the public to experience first-hand the grandeur and history of this wonderful vessel.

At the Paying-Off Ceremony, the queen clearly sad at the occasion, said: “Looking back over forty-four 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.” 

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF A VISIT TO THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA?

• Enjoy freshly made food and a warm welcome at the Royal Deck Tearoom.
• Visit the gleaming Engine Room to inspect the John Brown built turbines which drove the ship over a million nautical miles in its many years of service.
• The Wheelhouse , not on the Bridge as you might expect, is on the deck below. Yachtsmen unable to see ahead followed instructions from the officers through voice pipes.
• Admire the lavish State Dining Room , decorated with gifts received on foreign visits.
• Visit the Officers’ Wardroom , sometimes compared to a gentleman’s club, where officers would relax after work. Traditionally the captain did not dine there unless invited.
• Crew’s Quarters: These are much more cramped than the royal and officers’ quarters. They give a glimpse into the living conditions of the working crew. You can also visit the sick bay and the laundry room.

Special events

The Britannia also hosts a series of special events throughout the year, including music evenings and cocktail nights. It is also available for private hire, with the State Dining Room being a popular venue for dinners and receptions.

VISITOR INFORMATION

If you’re visiting during the busiest periods and just turn up, the queues can be long, so be prepared for a wait.

However, many of the available tour options will let you avoid queuing and you can book online on the official Britannia website.

But if you prefer to explore yourself, there are free audio guides in 30 languages to help you find your way around. A range of concession prices is also available.

Can you stay overnight on the Royal Yacht Britannia?

While you cannot stay overnight, you can at the nearby Fingal, a floating hotel moored nearby.

This unique hotel is also owned by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and is one of E dinburgh’s luxury hotels.

• Also nearby is the newest Edinburgh whisky distillery –the Port of Leith Distillery – due to open in the summer of 2023. (The distillery opened in October 2023).

For further information on admission times and help planning your visit, go to the Britannia website.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia is open, start your tour on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal

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Step aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia

Start your tour at our Ticket Centre on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal.

Please pre-book your tickets to guarantee admission.

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

A great day out for all the family, explore each of the five decks at this top attraction in Edinburgh and discover what life was like on board Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace. 

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Homemade soups, sandwiches and cakes, along with speciality teas and coffees.

Apply for 12 months' free admission after your first visit.

Stay at our luxury floating hotel, Fingal, AA Hotel of the Year Scotland.

Find souvenirs and gifts from Britannia's online Gift Shop.

Visiting Britannia

Start your tour at our Ticket Centre, currently located on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. 

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

Click on the Visit page  for more information 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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Sunak sinks new royal yacht plan in favour of ocean surveillance ship

Defence capabilities prioritised over Johnson’s £250m ‘vanity project’ for successor to HMY Britannia

Rishi Sunak has sunk plans by Boris Johnson’s administration to build a new royal yacht, sparking criticism about the £2.5m of taxpayers’ money already spent on the “vanity project”.

As Whitehall braced for cuts expected in Jeremy Hunt’s autumn statement next week, the project – intended to promote post-Brexit trade – was abandoned in favour of defence capabilities.

The scheme, championed by Johnson when he was prime minister , was likely to cost up to £250m, with additional annual running costs of up to £30m.

The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, who had previously supported the idea and described critics as “doomsters”, told the House of Commons it had been dropped on Monday.

He said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s “reckless disregard of international arrangements designed to keep world order” meant it was more important to deliver “capabilities which safeguard our national infrastructure”.

Wallace confirmed he had “directed the termination of the national flagship competition with immediate effect”, in order to prioritise the procurement of a multi-role ocean surveillance ship (MRoss).

The MRoss would “protect sensitive defence infrastructure and civil infrastructure” and “improve our ability to detect threats to the seabed and cables”, he said.

Sunak’s spokesperson said the prime minister thought it was “right to prioritise at a time when difficult spending decisions need to be made”.

Labour welcomed the news that the government was scrapping Johnson’s “taxpayer-funded vanity project”.

John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, said: “At a time when threats to this country are growing, and the Conservatives’ economic mismanagement threatens future prosperity, this money would have been better spent on our nation’s defences.”

The vessel had been expected to be constructed in the UK and had been planned to take to the water in 2024 or 2025, touring the world as a “floating embassy”.

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Harland & Wolff, a shipbuilding and marine engineering operator based in Belfast, said it was one of two finalists in the design procurement process.

John Wood, the firm’s chief executive, said the decision to scrap the scheme was “disappointing”, but added: “We understand the rationale for doing so, considering the current macroeconomic environment and the ongoing situation in Ukraine.”

He said the flagship would have “returned many multiples of her build cost to the UK economy over many decades, acting as an international demonstration of the creativity and engineering talent the UK has to offer”.

However, the Commons defence committee said in 2021 there was “no evidence of the advantage to the Royal Navy of acquiring the national flagship” and that the cost would pile extra pressure on the armed forces.

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Tickets & prices The Royal Yacht Britannia

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Admission prices & discounts for tickets to The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh

The following overview lists the admission prices and various discounts and discount codes for a visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh . All prices are displayed per age group or reduced rate group. You can also directly book your discounted online ticket for the The Royal Yacht Britannia here, if available, or make a reservation to reserve a timeslot if applicable.

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Ticket prices & discounts

Armed Forces are only available at the Britannia ticket desk on the second floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre with ID (Staff ID or payslip). Please be reassured, even though it is not possible to book these discounted tickets in advance, you can still buy your tickets at the ticket desk. Student tickets can only be purchased from the ticket desk with a valid student ID.

Tours & tickets near The Royal Yacht Britannia

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