The Royal Yacht Britannia has been the center of attention as the King enjoyed a tour and reception to commemorate its 25th year in Edinburgh. This visit is part of the Royal Family’s Holyrood Week, a series of traditional events in Scotland. As part of the celebration, there will be a special ceremony of thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral where the King will receive the Honours of Scotland, the nation’s crown jewels.
To mark this special occasion, the Royal Family’s Instagram account shared a throwback image of a young Charles, then Prince of Wales, with his sister Princess Anne, and their parents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on-board the yacht in 1956. The King, who swapped his traditional tartan kilt and sporran for a smart navy suit, joined former Royal Yacht Britannia sailors in reviving an old navy tradition by drinking a tot of rum. He was seen grinning widely during his visit to the yacht.
The Queen once described Britannia as the one place in the world where she could truly relax. With its homely touches and comfortable furnishings, it was her country home at sea. The Queen was actively involved in the design process, rejecting overly opulent designs in favor of a more relaxed and cozy feel. Britannia served as the royal family’s holiday retreat, and also took them on 968 official voyages spanning more than a million miles and nearly 44 years of service.
During his visit, the King had the opportunity to interact with former crew members of the yacht. Bob Downie, Chief Executive of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, Rear Admiral Neil Rankin, Chairman of the Trust, and Commodore Anthony (Tony) Morrow, Chairman of the Association of Royal Yachtsmen, were among those who welcomed and introduced the King to the crew. It was a nostalgic moment for the King as he returned to the vessel he once called home.
The Royal Yacht Britannia has been docked in Leith, Edinburgh for the past 25 years, serving as a popular tourist attraction. Built in 1953, it proudly served the nation for 44 years, undertaking numerous state visits and traveling over a million nautical miles. The yacht was decommissioned in 1997 and subsequently purchased by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, opening its doors to the public in 1998. Over the last 25 years, Britannia has become a highly acclaimed 5-star visitor attraction, welcoming over 6.5 million visitors.
Earlier in the day, the King participated in the historic Ceremony of the Keys, which marks the beginning of Holyrood Week for the Royal Family. During this ceremony, the Lord Provost welcomes the King into the city of Edinburgh and offers him the keys. The King then returns the keys, symbolically entrusting them to the elected officials of the city. He also inspects a guard of honor provided by the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Ceremony of the Keys is just one of the many events that celebrate Scottish culture, history, and achievements during Holyrood Week.
Before the ceremony, Charles visited Kinneil House in Bo’ness, Falkirk, where he had the opportunity to meet various individuals and partake in other activities.
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