Cunard’s 92,000-tonne Queen Elizabeth liner, which was officially named Queen Elizabeth by the Queen, embarked on its maiden voyage yesterday – a cruise to the Canary Islands, which was sold out within 30 minutes after tickets were made available.
The Queen officially named the liner 72 years after watching her mother launch the first Queen Elizabeth.
As hundreds of invited guests listened to patriotic tunes including Land Of Hope And Glory in a quayside ceremony at Southampton, the Queen spoke the familiar vessel-launching words, requesting God to bless the vessel “and all who sail in her”.
The naming, also shown in a live broadcast at Southampton’s Guildhall Square, was completed as a jeroboam of 2009 Rothschild white wine – rather than champagne – was smashed against the bow of the ship.
Aged 12, the Queen was present on the Clyde in Scotland in 1938 as the then Queen Elizabeth – later the Queen Mother – launched the Queen Elizabeth.
Then, 29 years later and again on the Clyde, the Queen launched the QE2, which remained in Cunard service until just two years ago.
The Queen arrived mid-afternoon in Southampton to tour the Italian-built third version of the Queen Elizabeth before the naming ceremony.
Accompanied by the new ship’s Master, Captain Chris Wells, the Queen visited the bridge of the 964ft-long vessel, which can carry 2,068 passengers and 996 crew.
She also saw, for the first time, a portrait of her by 31-year-old Burnley-born artist Isobel Peachey, who is believed to be the youngest woman commissioned to paint the monarch.
The picture shows the Queen wearing a necklace and earrings – formerly belonging to Queen Victoria - which she wore at the Coronation in 1953.
The 16-deck ship, which can travel at a speed of around 27mph, also features an 18ft panel created by the Queen’s nephew Viscount Linley, art deco interiors echoing the 1930s great age of ocean liners, and a shopping area featuring names such as Fortnum & Mason and Harris Tweed.
There is also an 832-seat theatre where passengers will be able to watch West End-style shows.
Tickets for this first voyage went on sale on April 1 last year and were all snapped up within 30 minutes.
Fares for this first sailing ranged from £1,489 for an inside-facing room, to £15,799 per person for a grand suite.
The first world cruise starts on January 5, a 103-day trip which includes stops at 38 ports in 23 countries, including calls at Los Angeles, Sydney and Hong Kong.
Cunard’s second biggest ship
The new ship was built at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard near Trieste in Italy. It is 92,000 gross tonnes in weight, can carry 2,092 passengers and 996 crew and can travel at a top speed of around 27mph. The ship is 964 ft long and is the second-biggest Cunard ship, with the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) being the largest
Passengers aboard the new ship will get through more than 954,000 tea bags a year as well 59,000lbs of coffee, 1.53 million fresh eggs and 121,000 lbs of scrambled eggs
Travellers will also eat more than 440,000lbs of potatoes a year, while annual consumption of wine and champagne will amount to nearly 352,000 bottles
The ship’s master is Captain Chris Wells, who joined Cunard as second officer on the QE2 in 1992 and later served on the QM2
The new Queen Elizabeth features an 18ft panel created by the Queen’s nephew Viscount Linley and which depicts the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth liner
The Queen was present on the Clyde in Scotland as a 12-year-old to see her mother – then Queen Elizabeth – launch the first Queen Elizabeth in 1938. (AFP)