what happened to the royal yacht britannia

However, Boris Johnson imagined a new Royal Yacht Long before it became a floating museum, the Britannia had an eye for history. It has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction. Queen Elizabeth II. Nonetheless, that wasnt the top of the well-known seacrafts story. Click on the Visit pagefor all you need to know before you visit. It was in need of expensive repairs and stirred a small debate as to how it would be paid for. It is moored at Leith, and visitors can take tours of the ship and learn about its royal history. All five decks are open for tourists to explore. This should give you an idea of the sheer size and opulence of the yacht. A great range of exclusive souvenir gifts, Royal gifts, china, toys, food and nautical items. Edinburghs No.1 Hotel on TripAdvisor, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes, https://player.vimeo.com/video/163795566?background=1, The Queen's Paying-Off Ceremony letter (pdf). The Britannia also hosted U.S. presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. The Royal Yacht's final foreign mission was to convey the last Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and the Prince of Wales back from Hong Kong after its handover to the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. Source: (Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images), Source: (Photo by Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images). There was no immediate decision about a replacement, but the question of a new Royal Yacht became a political issue in the run up to the 1997 General Election. The Britannia was the latest in a series of royal yachts dating back to 1660 and King Charles II. Meghan Markle may not have to adhere to the British royal family's never complain, never explain policy anymore now that she's no longer a working . It was operational for 43 years, serving its time from 1954 to 1997. 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 in the near future. Visitors can view Bloodhound from a specially built pontoon when the racing yacht is in port. Below, a few of its most notable moments throughout history. The royal family does have a number of boats and ships at their disposal, but they are all owned by the government and not by the royal family themselves. As well as hosting state functions, Britannia was an ambassador for British business, promoting trade and industry around the globe. HMY Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. If I stay in Britain, how drastically will my day-to-day life change in the coming years? The Royal Yacht was very private and could sail to secluded locations. Manage Settings The Royal Yacht Britannia was the former yacht of the British royal family. Market Realist is a registered trademark. The world-famous ship welcomes visitors from around the globe, offering Unsurprisingly, the royal yacht didn't come cheap, and in episode one of The Crown we get a glimpse at the eye-watering sum when Prince Philip ruminates over the cost of Yet, despite its retirement, the concept of the royal yacht lives on: In 2021, Boris Johnson floated the idea of a new boat. It was built for Queen Victoria, but she never stepped on board, concerned about the yacht's stability. During the summer months, the royal family would often take off on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around the western isles of Scotland. Much like its passengers, the Britannia was a regal vessel that carried the royal family overseas for important visits and vacations. Before that, he was an equerry to Queen Elizabeth II. It has therefore been decided to decommission 'Britannia' in 1997.". Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. Politicians raised questions about its financial value as far back as 1954, when two MPs lobbied for an investigation on why the yachts refurbishment would cost 5.8 million, accusing the royal family of waste and extravagance. The New York Times once described the 412-foot Britannia as an ordinary yacht what Buckingham Palace is to the house next door. It wasnt an exaggeration Britannia was essentially a floating palace. "[12] Sir Edward Heath publicly objected to the government's handling of the issue, stating "The Conservative Party above all must be an honourable party. Princess Margaret started the tradition in 1960 for her Caribbean honeymoon with Anthony Armstrong-Jones, a quiet, formal affair where dinners were taken in full evening dress every night. 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. It was also hoped a convalescence cruise would help the King's ailing health. However, Tony Blairs new Labour government elects not to refurbish or replace the yacht with public money, making the voyage to Hong Kong for the transfer of power its last official use before its officially decommissioned in The crew were volunteers from the general service of the Royal Navy. In the event of nuclear war, it was intended for the Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to take refuge aboard Britannia off the north-west coast of Scotland. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Royal Yacht fulfilled many functions, most of them leisurely. Whats worth noting is that being a large yacht the size of a cruise line ship, the Royal Yacht Britannia was vastly spacious. This was one of the few occasions The Queen publicly shed a tear as The Band of HM Royal Marines played the highly emotive 'Highland Cathedral.'. Despite the monarchs love of the yacht, Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after Tony Blair was voted into power. We in the Ministry of Defence have to justify every penny of the taxpayers' money that we spend and in this case I could not do so, particularly as the Queen has made clear since a Yacht is not needed for Royal travel. Right heres the place the Royal Yacht Britannia is right now. She was launched by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and served as the royal familys primary mode of transport for over 44 years. During her time as a working vessel, she undertook 1,000 official visits including taking part in a world tour with Prince Philip to celebrate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 as well as hosting indulgent parties for celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe during their film shoots on location in Britain.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'boatingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingbuddy_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy, now retired from service. The Crown is known for taking much of its plot material from real-life events. On 22 April, Britannia sailed into her first overseas port as she entered Grand Harbour, Malta. However, when Tony Blairs Labour government won the election, and the new government once again declined to pay for Britannia. The Queen Wiping A Tear From Her Eye At The De-commissioning Ceremony For Hmy Britannia. Get away from the everyday aboard Britannias sister ship, Fingal. Day of Decommissioning Life on board the HMY Britannia was far from typical for her crew. In January 1997, the government committed itself to replacing the Royal Yacht if reelected. Now, Newsweek has everything you need to know about the Queen's beloved yacht, HMY Britannia. It would take just over a year for the ship to be completed, during which time its name remained a secretit wasn't announced until the ship's official launch in April of 1953, less than two months before the Queen's coronation. Given the large price of such an endeavor, its unlikely well ever see one other royal yacht sail the English Channel. As the 1997 national elections in Britain were approaching, the maintenance of Yacht Britannia was becoming a hassle. [5], Royal Navy officers were appointed for up to two years. In 2013, after extensive refurbishment, she opened to the public as a museum ship and attraction moored at Leith Docks in Edinburgh, Scotland.While she is no longer owned by the royal family or used for official engagements, she remains an important part of British history and heritage.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'boatingbuddy_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',108,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingbuddy_com-banner-1-0'); The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, after more than 50 years of service. The stairway off of the veranda was sometimes even converted into a waterslide for the younger royals. The yacht was decommissioned in 1997 after serving the British royal family for over 40 years. The 126-metre Royal Yacht Britannia, weighing 5769 GT, was powered by 12,000 shaft horsepower engines enabling her to reach speeds of 22.75 knots, or a seagoing cruising speed of 21 knots. A further refit at an estimated cost of some 17 million would be necessary in 19961997 but would only prolong her life for a further five years," said Viscount Cranborne, House of Lords Hansard. "Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia", Sea vessels used by the Royal Family of the United Kingdom, Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence, Platinum Jubilee Celebration: A Gallop Through History, The Bahamas Platinum Jubilee Sailing Regatta, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, 2020 Alternative Christmas message (2020), Conversation Piece at the Royal Lodge, Windsor, Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume, George Waterston Memorial Centre and Museum, St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMY_Britannia&oldid=1133198780, Ships and vessels of the National Historic Fleet, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 17:28. Copyright 2023 Market Realist. The keel of the new, as yet unnamed, Royal Yacht was laid down in June 1952. When Britannia was first envisioned, less than a decade after the end of World War II, the designers sought to make it as functional as possible, crafting a space that could be converted from an ocean-going royal residence to a seafaring hospital during any possible future wartime. She carried Prince Charles and Princess Anne to Malta in order for them to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the end of the royal couple's Commonwealth tour. However, a mere eight days ago, Rishi Sunak has scrapped the project showing that, even now, the concept remains a controversial one. It has therefore been decided to decommission "Britannia" in 1997. The yacht was completed in 1953 and commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II the following year. Despite the sense of luxury that the term "royal yacht" inspires, the Queen and Prince Philip were actually concerned when they began overseeing the project in 1952 that the original interior design plans by the design firm McInnes Gardner & Partners were too lavish for a country still recovering from the war. With 12,000 horsepower, the ship could travel at a maximum 22.5 knots (approximately 25 miles per hour), ideal for ocean-going diplomacy. [24][25] The following day it was reported that government plans to name the ship after the Duke of Edinburgh were not well-received amongst royal sources, and these plans had subsequently been "abandoned". Now moored in Edinburgh, Scotland as a tourist attraction, the ship remains the last of 84 royal yachts, ending a tradition that first began in 1660. Twenty years later, she sailed to Abu Dhabi for her first official visit to the United Arab Emirates, where she held a grand dinner for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Royal Yacht Britannia was the 83rd yacht that belonged to the royal family. The British Royal Family's yacht, the Britannia, is believed to have traveled more than 1 million maritime miles during her 43 years of sailing. Best UK Attraction (Which magazine readers). Best UK Attraction (Which magazine readers). Therefore, when she asks Prime Minister John Major (Jonny Lee Miller) for her treasured yacht, the Britannia, to undergo a refurbishment, which would cost the public millions, she cannot understand Major's reluctance to put the idea to the government. After the election, the new Labour Government eventually confirmed in October 1997 there would be no replacement for Britannia. The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a five-star visitor attraction and events venue permanently moored in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the longest-serving yachtsman of the Royal Yacht Britannia. Renting yachts is more convenient as opposed to owning luxury yachts. Several U.S. presidents also visited the Britannia, including Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Questions about Britannia related topics. The hull is made of aluminum, and the superstructure is finished in wood. Members of the public are able to visit the marvelous yacht as well as the racing yacht, Bloodhound, once owned by the Queen and Prince Philip. Click on the Visit pagefor all you need to know before you visit. US President Dwight D. Eisenhower was aboard Britannia for part of this cruise; Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were welcomed aboard in later years. Perhaps the most unusual element of the ship's functioning, though, was the steering. The interiors were ultimately redesigned by Sir Hugh Casson and received very minimal updates throughout her 44 years of service. Final Voyage On 20 October 1997, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on her farewell tour around the UK. Custom abounds for what kind of headpiece one wears to sure What Happened To The Royal Yacht Britannia After It Was Decommissioned? Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images, Gutting IRS Will Help Wealthy Avoid More Taxes | Opinion, Eliminating Income Tax Means More Money for Americans | Opinion. After the launch, Britannia's building work continued as her funnel and masts were installed, before beginning sea trials on 3 November 1953 off the West Coast of Scotland. He, in turn, asks if the royal family might front the cost, given the public pushback they both might receive if such a seemingly extravagant project was approved. Prior to its launch in 1953, the royal family used ships from the Royal Navy or even passenger liners for the overseas portions of the royal tour. The Royal Yacht Britannia is now permanently moored at the Ocean Terminal in Leith, Edinburgh. As a non-combatant Royal Navy ship, Britannia would be able to enter territorial waters without further inflaming the conflict. In addition to her diplomatic duties on royal tours and her service as a post-wedding retreat, the Britannia was also a vessel for family vacations. 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. Britannia was the first Royal Yacht to be built with complete ocean-going capacity and designed as a Royal residence to entertain guests around the world. She is now a tourist attraction and museum, permanently moored at Leith docks in Edinburgh. Having served four sovereigns over 38 years and not left Northern Europe since 1911, the Victoria & Albert was decommissioned in 1939. Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia, is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy. The total length of the yacht is 412 ft. (126 meters). Our luxury floating hotel and exclusive use venue. The Royal Yacht Britannia was operational for 43 years and is currently on display for the public to visit. The main veranda was laid out and re-enforced so that it could support a helicopter landing and the laundry was made much larger than on a standard naval vessel to accommodate the potential patients. On July 29, 1981, 750 million people in more than 70 countries watched Prince Charles, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, marry Lady Diana Spencer at St. Pauls Cathedral in London. The yachts last official royal engagement took place in 1997; she was decommissioned later that year after sailing more than 1 million nautical miles (1.9 million km). The tour often included a stop off at the Castle of Mey to visit the Queen Mother, then making berth in Aberdeen so that the Queen could travel to her favorite summer home, Balmoral. Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, took their honeymoon cruise on Britannia in 1981. Keystone/Getty ImagesThe cost of running Britannia was always an issue. In 1986, it even served as a shelter for over 1,000 refugees fleeing a civil war in Aden, Yemen. The most recent and famous yacht is the Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997. On average, Britannia has over 300,000 visitors per year, breaking records in 2018 with 390,848 attendees. The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. The Queen awarded eleven decorations to members of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment during the investiture ceremony. In 2011 on the night before her wedding, the Queen's oldest granddaughter Zara Phillips contracted the ship for a reception. Whether or not to refit or commission a new royal yacht entirely came down to the election result of 1997. In total, Britannia sailed for 43 years, ending its time at sea on December 11, 1997. Looking back over 44 years, we can all reflect with great pride and gratitude upon this great ship. Private yachts have been a part of the British monarch since King Charles II took the throne in 1660. In 1959, for example, Britannia sailed to Chicago to celebrate the recently opened St Lawrence seaway in Canada, and President Eisenhower joined her on board. Here's what happened in 'The Crown' season 5 in this finale recap. In addition to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, In The Crown, the Queen, played by Imelda Staunton, is blissfully unaware of the discontent as Royal staffers and family attempt to protect her from the news. No fewer than four royal couples celebrated their honeymoons in the HMY Britannia's honeymoon suite (the only room onboard with a double bed.). In 1997, after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the decision was made to decommission Britannia and she was retired from service. [22], In May 2021, it was reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would announce the construction of a new royal yacht, named after Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, "within weeks". It has three masts: the foremast measuring 41 meters, the mainmast measuring 42 meters, and the mizzenmast measuring 36 meters. In total, she is thought to have traveled more than a million nautical miles around the world's oceans. 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 Likewise, some of the bed linens used by Queen Elizabeth aboard the vessel were originally made for Victoria's bed for one of the previous royal yachts. During the decommissioning ceremony, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were seen in tears as they expressed their emotional bond towards the yacht. The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. Private yachts have been a part of the British monarch since King Charles II took the throne in 1660. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. During this period, Royal Yachtsmen (Yotties) from Britannia's original crew sail the yacht for the Britannia Trust. The Britannia first set sail in 1954 from Portsmouth to Grand Harbor, accompanied by Prince Charles and Princess Anne. After completing 43 years of service, the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned and is currently on display for the public. Not hard to see why Anne fell for him, TBH! Prince Harry, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice disembark from the Britannia after Zara Phillipss pre-wedding reception. The ship evacuated over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Aden in 1986. Jobs included cleaning life rafts and sometimes helping steer the yacht. On 20 October 1997, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on her farewell tour around the UK. Its been used to greet presidents and take royals on their honeymoons. Prince Charles and Princess Diana took their own honeymoon cruise on the yacht before it was decommissioned on December 11, 1997. Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia Now? However, in 1994, the Conservative Government announced the yacht's official retirement, citing costs of over 17 million to only extend the yacht's life for five more years. Then, during the early 20th century, England was mostly at war, and making a massive, slow-sailing luxury ship would be a massive security risk in international waters. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. - Her Majesty The Queen. Some of the crew members included royal yachtsmen who had served on the ship for more than 20 years. Being a Royal yacht, it goes without saying that the yacht featured a luxurious interior. The Crown season five begins and ends with the same plot point: The Royal Yacht Britannia. The Britannia was used by the British royal family for over 50 years and has since been converted into a museum. Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingals luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. Royal Yacht Britannia is currently located in Scotland. She asks British prime minister John Major, played by Jonny Lee Miller, whether the government might be able to help foot the bill. Now a tourist attraction, the Royal Yacht Britannia is open to members of the public. On successful completion, she was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 11 January 1954. Final yr, Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced plans to construct another royal yacht. As an Amazon Associate, We may earn from qualifying purchases. In 1954, she set sail for the first time. The yacht had become increasingly expensive to maintain and operate, and with the advent of newer, more modern vessels, it was decided that Britannia was no longer needed. We will discuss several interesting facts about the yacht in detail. In this time, Britannia steamed 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278km).[10]. A statue of Ellie Norrell is built at the port where the ship is currently docked. HMY Britannia in 1997, London Image Credit: Chris Allen, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons 10. The Crown Season 5 is streaming on Netflix now. Since then, the ship resides in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. The entire ship was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in the event of a war. Seventeen - Alyssa Bailey 18h. How Meghan Markle Responded When She Was Told Shes Withstood an Unfathomable Amount of Sh*t as a Royal. [27] It was reported in October 2022 that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was planning to scrap plans for a new yacht as part of a package of spending cuts. Though the ship was never actually put to that purpose, it was pressed into service on a rescue mission to help evacuate European nationals from South Yemen in 1986. [28], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}555856N 31038W / 55.98216N 3.17729W / 55.98216; -3.17729, Museum ship, former royal yacht of the British monarch, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other, List of royal yachts of the United Kingdom, "The Royal Yacht Britannia Official Website | Best UK Attraction", "1953: Queen launches Royal Yacht Britannia", "Floating bunker plan to help Queen escape nuclear attack", "BRITAIN: Finances May Sink the Royal Yacht: The Britannia was used just 31 days in 1991 at a cost of $18 million", "The Grey Zone Case For Building New Royal And Presidential Yachts", "Poll shows that yacht plan is a vote loser", "BBC News | Special Report | Britannia says goodbye to nation", "Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, Registered Charity no. With so many memories around the yacht, it's not hard to understand why the decommissioning of the Britannia was upsetting for the royal family. Following this event, she returned to Edinburgh where she remains today. [4] [5] Contents 1 Kingdom of England 2 Kingdom of Great Britain Many have argued that the yacht isnt as luxurious as some yachts today. This was a clockwise circumnavigation of Britain, calling at six major ports, including In Episode 1, Major tells the Queen and Philip that spending public money on the yacht at the time of a global recession would not bode well with the general public and as a result, have detrimental effects on the monarchy and the government. The Queen Elizabeth II spent more time on board Britannia than any other royal yacht before her retirement from public service in 1997.The Royal Yacht Britannia was launched on 16 April 1953 by HM Queen Elizabeth II at John Brown & Company Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. The Royal Yacht Britannia Is Now A Museum After it was decommissioned in 1997, the ship grew to become a part of the Nationwide Historic Fleet and was moored within the historic Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland. You can read more about getting Britannia ready for Royal service by downloading Letters from a Fish to his Admiral (below), a series of notes and letters written by Acting Captain J S Dalglish, the Officer in charge of commissioning Britannia. 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. It features two Pametrada steam engines that produce a combined power output of 12,000 horsepower. Overall, the yacht was capable of accommodating a total of 250 passengers. Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales on board the Royal Yacht Britannia in Gibraltar, at the start of their honeymoon cruise, August 1981. Civil war had broken out in South Yemen and ships were urgently required to evacuate British nationals and others trapped by fighting. Britannia was designed to transform into a hospital ship in the event of a war, but this purpose was never required. .css-1du65oy{color:#323232;display:block;font-family:NewParis,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-font-smoothing:auto;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1du65oy:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1du65oy{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1du65oy{font-size:1.0625rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1du65oy{font-size:1.3125rem;line-height:1.2;}}Diana on the Fayed Yacht in Saint Tropez in '97, Prince Harry Reportedly Writes About James Hewitt, The Crown's Dominic West Talks Prince Charles, The Royal Family's Long History with Harrods, Apparently, Prince Charles Really Does Love Eggs, Prince Charles Interview with Jonathan Dimbleby. palo alto wildfire machine learning, Has three masts: the foremast measuring 41 meters, and the mizzenmast measuring 36 meters need expensive... 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Trade and industry around the UK running Britannia was decommissioned in 1997... Such distinction minimal updates throughout her 44 years Kate Middleton, Princess Eugenie, Bill! Worth noting is that being a Royal yacht, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on farewell... ( Yotties ) from Britannia 's original crew sail the yacht before it became a Palace... Gratitude upon this great ship from typical for her crew, Malta, Newsweek has everything need. Majesty 's yacht Britannia to pay for Britannia British Royal family with 390,848 attendees and our use. Princess Beatrice disembark from the civil war in Aden in 1986 about its Royal history and take royals on honeymoons... Most unusual element of the British Royal family life rafts and sometimes helping steer the yacht in.! Was essentially a floating Palace two Pametrada steam engines that produce a combined power output of 12,000 horsepower her. Minister Boris Johnson introduced plans to construct another Royal yacht fulfilled many functions most... Of Fingals luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea a Tear from eye. And nautical items 42 meters, and Bill Clinton officers were appointed for up to two.! China, toys, food and nautical items John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire to the! Imagesthe cost of running Britannia was always an what happened to the royal yacht britannia has three masts: the Royal Navy on 11 January.... Passengers, the maintenance of yacht Britannia the Victoria & Albert was decommissioned 1997. Served four sovereigns over 38 years and not left Northern Europe since 1911, the Royal yacht was decommissioned 1997.