News

News

The Duchess names the Queen Victoria luxury liner in Southampton

10th December 2007

The Duchess of Cornwall named a new luxury liner after The Prince of Wales’s great-great-great grandmother today.

The Queen Victoria ship, built by Cunard, was named by Her Royal Highness who was accompanied by The Prince of Wales to the grand ceremonial opening at Southampton docks.

The Band of the Royal Marines from Portsmouth played as Their Royal Highnesses arrived on the dock side where they were greeted by dignitaries and the ship's captain, Paul Wright, who has been with Cunard for 27 years.

Built at Italy's Fincantieri shipyard, the new vessel will leave its home port of Southampton tomorrow for its maiden, 10-day voyage around Northern Europe.

Amenities on board include seven restaurants, three swimming pools and a Queen's Room, where the life of Queen Victoria is reflected through a collection of works including photographs of The Queen, her husband Prince Albert and their children and grandchildren.

Before the naming ceremony, Their Royal Highnesses toured the 19,000-tonne ship which can carry 2000 passengers and 1000 crew.

During the tour, Their Royal Highnesses visited the bridge of the vessel and pressed a button to sound the whistle on the ship.

The Duchess, dressed in a sky-blue outfit, and The Prince were escorted round the liner by Cunard's president, Carol Marlow.

The tour included a visit to the 830-seater theatre where Cunard has installed, for the first time on a passenger vessel, West End-style theatre boxes.

In the Royal Box, Their Royal Highnesses watched Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins perform and the cast from the musical revue Victoriana.

Sir Derek Jacobi played the part of fictional traveller Phileas Fogg and traced the history of the Cunard line.

Tenors Alfie Boe, Jon Christos and Gardar Thor Cortes sang Nessum Dorma and, to mark the Queen Victoria joining the QE2 and the Queen Mary 2 in the Cunard fleet, they also sang I Saw Three Ships.

The Prince and The Duchess then met some of the cast on the stage before Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque, to officially open the Royal Box.

While aboard The Duchess signed a picture of herself in the 6,000-book library and Their Royal Highnesses signed the visitors' book.

The Queen Victoria's first cruise around the world begins next month and the vessel will meet up with Cunard's other two queens - the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) and the Queen Mary 2 (QM2).