Royal Yacht Britannia built to replace
the Victoria and Albert and launched by Her Majesty the Queen April 1953.
The Royal Yacht Britannia was in service for 43 years and is now a
maritime heritage museum at Edinburgh.
Britannia was designed as a dual function vessel - as a Royal
Yacht in peacetime an as hospital ship in times of hostility. Although
built under post war austerity conditions, she provided a classical,
well-balanced profile, with meticulous attention paid to detail.
Features included innovative funnel design, bulbous bow, stabilisers,
superstructure tested in a wind tunnel, and the steel hull rivetted than
machined flush above the waterline to give an immaculate finish. The Queen
and Duke of Edinburgh took personal interest in the interior
design, choosing for the Royal apartments simple decor incorporating
white painted walls, mahogany and brass. Exquisite furnishings and objet
d'art provided embellishment, with many items retained from previous
Royal vessels.
Throughout Britannia's 43 year active life, her appearance
remained flawless, inside and out, despite having steamed well over 1
million miles. In service Britannia became a fitting symbol of Britain's
proud maritime heritage, and in retirement, will continue as a showcase
for British shipbuilding at its best. The painting shows Britannia with
the Forth Rail Bridge in the background.
Her Majestys Royal Yacht Britannia by Gordon Bauwens.
The order to build a Royal Yacht as replacement for the obsolete Victoria and Albert was placed in February 1952 with John Brown & Co Ltd. The Clydebank yard won this contract largely because of its experience in building the prestigious Cunard Queens and Caronia. Launched in April 1953 by Her Majesty the Queen, Britannia was the most modern in a long line of Royal Yachts dating back to King Charles IIs Mary, 1660. Britannia was designed as a dual function vessel - as a Royal Yacht in peacetime an as hospital ship in times of hostility. Although built under post war austerity conditions, she provided a classical, well-balanced profile, with meticulous attention paid to detail. Features included innovative funnel design, bulbous bow, stabilisers, superstructure tested in a wind tunnel, and the steel hull rivetted than machined flush above the waterline to give an immaculate finish. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh took personal interest in the interior design, choosing for the Royal apa.........
The Royal Yacht Britannia is show in the Thames at her traditional mooring off Castle Point against the dramatic backdrop of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
Item Code : DHM2166
Royal Yacht Britannia by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available
