Description of the attraction
The Royal Yacht Britannia is a former yacht of Her Royal Majesty Elizabeth II. This is the 83rd royal ship since the restoration of Charles II in 1660, and the second ship to bear the name "Britannia" - the first was the famous racing yacht built for the Prince of Wales in 1893.
The Britannia was built at the Clydebank docks in 1953 and launched by Queen Elizabeth II. This is a three-masted yacht, the heights of the foremast and the mainmast were originally 41 m and 42 m respectively, but their heights had to be reduced, which allowed the yacht to pass under river bridges. During the war, the yacht was supposed to become a floating hospital, but the need for this never arose.
During her service life the yacht has sailed 1,087,623 nautical miles (2,014,278 km). The Queen and members of the royal family made 696 foreign visits on the yacht. The yacht made its last official voyage in 1997 - the Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten and the Prince of Wales returned to the UK on board after the transfer of Hong Kong to the jurisdiction of China.
There were suggestions to put the yacht on a dock in the Clyde, where it was built, and not in Edinburgh, with which the yacht had little connection. But this coincided in time with the reconstruction of the port at Leyte, and the yacht remained in Edinburgh. The ceremony was attended by Elizabeth II and members of the royal family. Many noticed that, usually so reserved in public, Elizabeth II, saying goodbye to the ship, shed a tear.
Visitors are allowed on the yacht, they can inspect the ceremonial dining room, the tea room and, from behind the glass, the bedroom. Many visitors note that, despite the status of a royal residence, the yacht looks rather modest, especially in comparison with the floating palaces of the modern nouveau riche. Sometimes various festive events are held on the yacht.
