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Posted by Sue Bryant Sep 13, 2007 |
Cunard Line has announced that Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, will attend the naming ceremony in Southampton on December 10, 2007, to mark the introduction of Cunard's new 90,000-ton liner Queen Victoria.
At this ceremony, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) will perform the naming of the ship. Let’s hope it’s as magical as the naming of Queen Mary 2 was in 2004, when the ship was dramatically unveiled in a hugely patriotic moment and named by the Queen, with rousing music, fireworks and a spectacular party to follow, despite the cold, dark British January.
This naming, Cunard says, will be a milestone in both Cunard and British maritime history, and will be a major event of worldwide interest, with over 2,000 VIP guests from around the globe in attendance at the ceremony.
Every one of the Cunard Queens has been named by a member of the Royal Family and this particular ceremony will mark the beginning of what the line calls ‘a new era’, as it will be the first time in its 168-year history that three Cunard Queens will be in service at the same time.
This era is short-lived, though, as the Queen Elizabeth 2 only has a year of service left before it is retired to Dubai.
If you want to get a look at Queen Victoria, the ship will be in Southampton for four days, during which time over 7,000 guests from around the world will visit. It will depart on its maiden voyage on Tuesday 11 December, 2007.