The Royal Yacht Britannia was the personal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family. Built in Scotland, it was christened in 1953 and decommissioned in 1997. It sailed all over the world and served as the queen’s lodgings in ports of call. The yacht also served as the vessel for several honeymoons in the Royal Family, and it was a favorite locale for Royal Family gatherings. They especially enjoyed summer holidays among the islands off Scotland’s west coast.
Britannia is now permanently docked in Edinburgh and is open for public tours. We enjoyed seeing this large and lavish yacht and getting a glimpse into how the Royal Family lives. Britannia had a staff of over two hundred, including a Royal Marine Band who served double duty as divers to check the hull for explosives in foreign ports. Everything had to be perfect for the Royal Family. For example, the dining silver was polished every day, fresh flowers were always on display throughout the ship, and cleaning and repairs were completed before 8 AM each day so as not to disturb the Royal Family.
The tour is comprehensive so we got to see all parts of the ship, including the royal residences, the kitchen, the staff quarters, and the engine room. The yacht even had its own rather large laundry so that every piece of fabric and clothing would be clean and pressed each day. Part of the ship has been converted into a restaurant so we had our lunch onboard.
