Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth will be inaugurated next month

Britain’s Cunard Line has confirmed that Queen Elizabeth will name her new namesake, the third Cunard ship to bear the name, at a ceremony to take place in Southampton on October 11, 2010. The naming will be a milestone in British maritime history and will be a major event of worldwide interest.

Cunard President and Managing Director Peter Shanks commented: “The naming of a Cunard Queen is a very special occasion and this will be an historic event in the true sense of the word. The Queen launched Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 and named our current flagship, the Queen Mary 2, in 2004. We are both honoured and proud that Her Majesty will name our new liner Queen Elizabeth.”

The Queen was also present at the age of 12 at the launch of the first Queen Elizabeth on September 27, 1938, when she accompanied her mother, Queen Elizabeth, to Clydebank for the launch along with her sister Princess Margaret.

The ship will set sail on her maiden voyage the day after the naming ceremony.

The Cunard line has a tradition of its major ships being named by British royalty.

Her Majesty Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched the Queen Mary in 1934 – and in so doing became the first British monarch ever to launch a merchant ship. His Majesty King George V accompanied his wife.

The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, launched the Caronia, the “Green Goddess”, in 1947. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Princess Margaret launched the Carinthia in 1955.

The Queen launched the Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret.

Again accompanied by the Duke, the Queen named the Queen Mary 2 in 2004.

The Duchess of Cornwall named the Queen Victoria in Southampton in December 2007. She was accompanied by the Prince of Wales.