Does The Queen Of England Have A Yacht?

In ‘The Crown,’ Queen Elizabeth II describes the 417-foot floating palace as a floating, seagoing version of herself. The UK hasn’t had a royal yacht for almost 25 years, but the British government has announced its intention to replace Her Majestys Yacht Britannia. The Royal Yacht Britannia was in service from 1954 until 1997, and was the 83rd such vessel. During her career, Britannia conveyed the Queen, other members of the Royal Family, and various dignitaries on 696 foreign visits and 272 visits in British waters.

Currently, there are currently no British royal yachts, although MV Hebridean Princess and MY Leander G have both been used by the royal family. The Royal Yachtsmen, also known as the Yotties, lived on board the 4,000-ton yacht, which had a crew of 220 Royal Yachtsmen, about 45 household staff, and occasionally a 26-member Royal Marine.

In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II was in Scotland to launch the new royal yacht, the Britannia. 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. The 4,000-ton yacht had a crew of 220 Royal Yachtsmen, about 45 household staff, and occasionally a 26-member Royal Marine.

Why didn’t the royal family pay for Britannia?

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.

Did Queen Elizabeth get a new yacht?

The christening of The Royal Yacht Britannia serves as a cheeky season opener toThe 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 theVictoria and Albert III. By the series’ season finale, set 44 years later, both the sovereign and the floating palace she christenedBritannia 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.

Does the British Crown have a yacht?

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

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

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

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

Who bought the Queen’s yacht?

HMY BritanniaHistoryUnited KingdomNameBritanniaOwnerThe Royal Yacht Britannia TrustOrdered5 February 1952.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Britannia.

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

HMY Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. She was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953, and commissioned on 11 January 1954. The ship was designed with three masts: a 133-foot (41m) foremast, a 139-foot (42m) mainmast, and a 118-foot (36m) mizzenmast. The top aerial on the foremast and the top 20 feet (6.1m) of the mainmast were hinged to allow the ship to pass under bridges.

Why did the Queen retire her yacht?

A further refit at an estimated cost of some £17 million would be necessary in 1996–97 but would only prolong her life for a further five years. In view of her age, even after the refit she would be difficult to maintain and expensive to run. It has therefore been decided to decommission ‘Britannia’ in 1997.

In looking back at the history of Royal Yacht Britannia, one can trace the emotional journey of Queen Elizabeth II. Her affection for the vessel stemmed from deep-rooted sentiment, making HMY Britannia’s retirement remarkably personal.

June 23, 1994, was a dark day for Queen Elizabeth II.

While public perception of Her Majesty’s lifestyle revolved around lavish wealth and exclusive travel, of which money was no object, that generalised consensus remained far from the truth.

Do the Royals have their own yacht?

The United Kingdom has had 83 royal yachts since the restoration of Charles II of England in 1660. Charles II himself had 25 royal yachts, while five were simultaneously in service in 1831. Since the decommissioning of Britannia in 1997 the British monarchy no longer has a royal yacht.

The Principality of Monaco owned the princely yacht Deo Juvante II between 1956–1958. This Camper and Nicholsons yacht was a wedding gift from Aristotle Onassis to Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly and was used on their honeymoon. The yacht, now called M/Y Grace, is now owned and operated by Quasar Expeditions.

Yugoslavia had some royal yachts before World War II (most notably, one was a sister ship of Ilinden which sank in Lake Ohrid in 2009).

How much is the royal yacht worth?

Boris Johnson wants to build a new, $278 million royal yacht named after Prince Philip, stoking an ongoing debate about cost and optics. From 1953 to 1997, the Royal Family sailed around the world on the Royal Yacht Britannia. To the dismay of the Queen, Parliament decommissioned the yacht in 1997, citing upkeep costs.

For 44 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia took the Royal Family on tours and vacations around the world.

Built in 1954, the five-story yacht became known as the Queen’s “floating palace” and had a full-time staff of more than 240 yachtsmen and officers.

The Queen is known to have said that it is the one place where she could “truly relax.”

Did Queen Victoria have a royal yacht?

HMY Victoria and Albert, a 360-foot (110m) steamer launched on 16 January 1855, was a royal yacht of the sovereign of the United Kingdom until 1900, owned and operated by the Royal Navy. She displaced 2,390 tons, and could make 15 knots (28km/h; 17mph) on her paddles. There were 240 crew.

Queen Victoria made her first cruise in her on 12 July 1855. On 3 June 1859, Victoria and Albert ran aground in the Scheldt whilst on a voyage from Gravesend, Kent to Antwerp, Belgium.

Queen Victoria lent the ship to Empress Elisabeth of Austria for her cruise to Madeira in 1860.

Do the Royals have a yacht anymore?

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

Data about launch years from Royal Yachts of the World by Tim Madge.

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

Where is the royal yacht kept?

Where is The Royal Yacht Britannia Berthed?. Just a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh’s city centre, in Leith.

Theentrance to the tour is on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.

By bike. Leave the car at home and cycle along the traffic-free Water of Leith. Bike racks are outside Ocean Terminal. For cycle routes, seeCycleStreets. For bike hire, contact theLeith Cycle CompanyorBike Trax.

Edinburgh trams now run from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre and down to Leith. To visit Britannia get off the tram at stop Ocean Terminal.

How much is the Royal Yacht worth?

Boris Johnson wants to build a new, $278 million royal yacht named after Prince Philip, stoking an ongoing debate about cost and optics. From 1953 to 1997, the Royal Family sailed around the world on the Royal Yacht Britannia. To the dismay of the Queen, Parliament decommissioned the yacht in 1997, citing upkeep costs.

For 44 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia took the Royal Family on tours and vacations around the world.

Built in 1954, the five-story yacht became known as the Queen’s “floating palace” and had a full-time staff of more than 240 yachtsmen and officers.

The Queen is known to have said that it is the one place where she could “truly relax.”

Which prime minister got rid of the Royal Yacht?

On 23 June 1994, John Major’s Government announced there would be no refit for HMY. After a long and successful career spanning 44 years and travelling over 1 million miles around the globe, it was announced that the last Royal Yacht was to be decommissioned.