As part of her birthday celebrations this year, Queen Elizabeth II will be treated to a large scale-model of HMY Britannia, a family yacht which was decommissioned in 1997 due to austerity measures.
Reportedly one of the few times the monarch has shed a tear in public, the ceremonial decommissioning of HMY Britannia saw the end of a longstanding tradition of royal cruising.
Used for intimate luxury yacht charter vacations as well as diplomatic duties, the motor yacht totaled almost a thousand voyages during her time in service, and was routinely praised by her majesty.
Whilst no longer in service, the yacht remains a source of popular interest, and is now a tourist attraction berthed permanently in Edinburgh.
It will therefore be to a warm reception that the queen will be receiving a highly detailed model of her former yacht as part of her 90th birthday celebrations.
Currently being assembled in Greenwich, the model is said to be six metres long by four high and made of a lightweight material not dissimilar to the kind used in the construction of durable kites.
HMY Britannia is the one place I can truly relax
Demonstrating the way that luxury yachts are wholly dynamic vessels, the history of HMY Britannia reveals more about how they can be used for vacations as well as for things like event charters.
Indeed, when it came to visiting or entertaining her international relations, Queen Elizabeth II regularly made her passage via HMY Britannia.
So, as she prepares for her highly anticipated parade next Sunday, we can all look forward to seeing a new version of an old friend.
In order to find out more about similarly sized superyachts, please get in touch with your preferred charter broker.
More Yacht Information
126m
John Brown & Company
1954 / 1987
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