Once home to her majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her family, the Royal Yacht Britannia is now moored at Leith, 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.
History of the Royal Yacht Britannia
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 Ghandi, 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 Edinburgh’s luxury hotels.
- Also nearby is the newest Edinburgh whisky distillery –the Port of Leith Distillery – due to open in the summer of 2023.
For further information on admission times and help planning your visit, go to the Britannia website.