New liner to be named by Queen today

The Queen will officially name Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth liner today in a ceremony at the vessel’s home port of Southampton.

The Italian-built, 92,000-tonne vessel will then leave tomorrow for its maiden voyage – a sailing that was fully booked less than 30 minutes after going on sale.

The 964 ft-long ship joins two other “queens” in the Cunard fleet – the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) and the Queen Victoria.

Full of art deco flourishes, the latest Queen Elizabeth recalls the era of the 1930s ocean liners.

The new ship features mosaics, chandeliers and cantilevered balconies. In the grand lobby is a recently-completed portrait of the Queen by Burnley-born artist Isobel Peachey.

Also in the grand lobby is a panel depicting the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth. This panel was created by the Queen’s nephew Viscount Linley.

With a capacity of 2,092 passengers, the new vessel is Cunard’s second biggest after the QM2 which was also named by the Queen at Southampton in 2004.

Capable of a maximum speed of 23.7 knots, the 16-deck Queen Elizabeth will feature West End-style shows in an 832-seat theatre. Other amenities include a spa, a games deck and a shopping arcade featuring brand names such as Fortnum & Mason and Harris Tweed.

Of the 1,046 rooms, 71 per cent have balconies. There are four grand suites and two master suites, as well as 25 penthouses.

The first Queen Elizabeth was launched on the Clyde in Scotland in 1938 by the then Queen Elizabeth, later to become the Queen Mother. The present Queen, then 12 years old, was present at the ceremony. The second vessel to bear the name – the QE2 – was launched on the Clyde by the Queen in 1967.