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Privacy NoticeWhen you think of the Royal Family’s residences, Buckingham Palace, Sandringham House, Windsor Castle and Kensington Palace probably come to mind first – but what about their other homes? While many are no longer used as royal residences, some hold particularly cherished memories for Queen Elizabeth II and her family. One such place is the now-retired Royal Yacht Britannia, which was used for everything from royal tours to private holidays and even iconic honeymoons. The yacht was launched in 1953, just a few months before The Queen’s coronation, and hosted numerous famous individuals and world leaders during its 44 years of service.
The late Queen loved Britannia
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
This floating home held an incredibly special place in Her Late Majesty’s heart, and she openly wept when it was retired in 1997. The Royal Yacht Britannia was often seen as a royal palace on water and was a favourite among the Royal Family. Over its four decades of use, it travelled over one million nautical miles and was used in 968 different state visits. The Queen described the yacht as the place “where I can truly relax” and was frequently photographed on it with her family during holidays. The ship was constructed by John Brown and Co. at the same Scottish shipyard where the renowned ocean liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were built.
The late Queen spent many happy holidays aboard Britannia
(Image: Getty Images)
The original intention behind HMY Britannia, when plans were submitted in 1952, was to aid King George VI’s health through travel. However, he tragically passed away just two days later on February 6. The yacht was constructed and launched a mere two months prior to The Queen’s coronation in 1953. Britannia isn’t just linked to over four decades of royal history, it also boasts numerous historical associations. Several items previously used on other royal yachts found a new home on this ship. The gold and white binnacle visible on the ship’s veranda deck originally belonged to HMY Royal George, a yacht that served Queen Victoria.
The late Queen loved Britannia
(Image: Getty Images)
In a similar vein, some of Her Majesty’s bed linens were initially crafted for Victoria’s bed. Most notably, Britannia’s steering wheel was salvaged from her namesake, the racing yacht HMY Britannia, built in 1893 for King Edward VII. Throughout its 40 years of service, the boat remained largely unchanged, with interiors designed by The Queen and Prince Philip to be less lavish than one might expect in a royal residence. While primarily used for royal tours, the ship frequently hosted private trips. Four renowned royal couples chose Britannia as their honeymoon destination, including Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, King Charles and Prince Andrew.
The Queen wiped away tears as Britannia was decommissioned
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Given the wealth of memories attached to the yacht, it’s easy to see why its decommissioning was such a poignant moment for the Royal Family. While there were initial plans for a replacement yacht, the government decided not to fund it. After the Queen officially disembarked from the ship for the last time in 1997, it was docked at the port of Leith in Scotland where it now serves as a floating museum. Interestingly, all the clocks on board are frozen at 3:01, marking the exact moment Her Majesty left the ship for the final time. It’s believed that The Queen hasn’t set foot on the ship since 1997, but several members of her family were spotted there in 2011 when they hosted a reception the night before Zara Tindall’s wedding.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPrince AndrewPrince PhilipZara TindallRoyal FamilyQueen Elizabeth IIKing Charles III
