UK: ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA RECEIVES LAST VISIT FROM ROYAL FAMILY

(11 Dec 1997) English/Nat

Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia received a last visit from the British royal family on Thursday, before it is formally retired from service.

An emotional thanksgiving service attended by Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family members took place alongside the Royal Yacht, which is moored in Portsmouth's Royal Naval base.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, flying the royal standard alongside the Union Jack flag.

Members of the British royal family boarded the yacht, for a long last look at the rooms where they received foreign dignitaries around the world, and spent honeymoons and holidays for 44 years.

The royal party included the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Princess Royal and Captain Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy.

Queen Elizabeth II was the last to disembark, flanked by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh.

A thanksgiving service followed, praising Britannia and all those who worked on her.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are gathered together in this ancient naval dockyard of Portsmouth this afternoon to worship almighty god and to commemorate the paying off of the royal yacht Britannia, after more than 43 years of distinguished service to Her Majesty the Queen."
SUPER CAPTION: Venerable Simon Golding, Chaplain of the Fleet

More than 250 officers and seamen were lined up on Britannia's gleaming decks for the occasion.

Next week the yacht will be towed by tugs from her present to the nearby Number 3 Basin at the base.

There, after December 19th, a complement of half the yacht's company will work on board to prepare her for retirement - either on Manchester Ship Canal or in Leith, Edinburgh.

Her engines will never be fired up again - they were shut down for the last time on November 22nd.

The royal apartments on board will be sealed and kept at a constant temperature, ensuring security as well as preventing deterioration.

Buckingham Palace said final decisions had yet to be taken over royal items on board.

Although the daily cleaning regime of Britannia will no longer take place, she will be kept "ship shape" by a small crew.

And her future owners will have to convince the British government that they can maintain her dignity.

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