It’s important to remember when you step aboard, that Britannia was built in 1952.  Walk onto the Bridge and Chartroom and you won’t see any computers.  Indeed, as you follow the tour around the Royal and State Apartments you may be surprised by its old fashioned décor.   Remember though, this is a family who grew up during the war years, so items were only replaced if they were broken and couldn’t be repaired.

          Britannia is the only place where you can see the private bedroom of our current reigning Monarch.  The Queen’s bedroom is femininely floral whereas Prince Philip’s is dominated by dark and practical furniture.  There is only one double bed on Britannia, which was used by each of the Queen’s children on their respective honeymoons!

          As you wander down from the Shelter Deck onto the Verandah Deck, the homeliness prevails.  It’s easy to see how the Royal family could relax here.  The Sun Lounge with its cosy sofas and chairs was the Queen’s favourite room, where she enjoyed taking afternoon tea.

          The State Rooms on the Upper Deck do have an air of grandness about them.  The State Dining Room is magnificent.  Here, Kings, Queens, Heads of State and National Heroes have all sat at the impressive 32-seater mahogany table when Britannia hosted official banquets.  Dotted around the room are small alcoves, each of which contain a small selection of some of the gifts presented to the Queen on her many tours.  It’s an adaptable room though.  It’s been used as a cinema, for Church services and even as a dance hall for Princess Anne’s 21^st birthday.

          In 1986 Britannia’s State Apartments took on another role.  Civil War had broken out in South Yemen, and Britannia was called upon to help British Nationals escape from the fighting that was taking place there.  Only a boat which could anchor offshore and help the fleeing British nationals, without provoking a further diplomatic crisis, could tackle this delicate operation.  As the Royal Navy’s only non-fighting vessel, this was something Britannia could do.  The State Dining Room, along with several other rooms, was cleared and many of the British escapees dossed down on the floor for their return journey to freedom.  Today you can hire the State Dining Room and adjacent rooms for your very own private function, whether it be corporate or personal.  Who would turn down an invitation to an event on Britannia?

          When you drop down to the Engine Room, don’t fall into the trap that General Schwarzkopf did in 1992 as he was given a guided tour of the mechanical side of the yacht.  “Okay, I’ve seen the museum piece.  Now where’s the real engine room?” he was heard to remark.  The highly polished metal and sparkling white paintwork you see today is just how it looked when it was busy propelling Britannia for over 1 million nautical miles.  The mat outside the door was for those entering the engine room to wipe their feet, not the other way around!

          There are five decks to explore on Britannia and you should allow at least 2 hours to take in this magnificent all-year attraction, and to get the most out of the audio guided tour.  See all (yes there is more than one) of the bars and Messes where the officers and yotties relaxed when off duty, and try to imagine what it must have been like to be a Royal Marine living in the very cramped, onboard barracks.

          Coming face to face with the operating theatre might come as a shock to some, but it demonstrates Britannia’s other role.  In times of conflict, she was designed to become a fully functioning hospital ship capable of dealing with up to 200 patients.  Thankfully this was never needed, but the conversion process from Royal Yacht to hospital ship was just 24 hours.

          Britannia also had its own NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institute) shop, selling sweets, basic provisions and souvenirs.  The sweets were a popular hit with the Royal children, and it still operates as a small shop today for visitors.

          The tour returns you to the gift shop, perfect for those seeking that special memento of the visit.  Make the most of your time at the Ocean Terminal with some retail therapy before heading back to the City Centre.  Find time to take tea in Jenner’s department store, or visit the Edinburgh Castle Restaurant with its spectacular views over the city towards Leith Docks and Britannia’s mooring.  The Castle, home to the Scottish National War Memorial, the 6 ton canon ‘Mons Meg’ and its own Royal Palace, dominates the skyline and is a must if this is your first visit to the city, as is the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse at the end of the Royal Mile.  One visit to Edinburgh, just isn’t enough.

          In Her Majesty’s 80^th year, it’s easy to see why Britannia meant so much to her.  This was not just a boat that took her on tours of official duty but a home and a place where she and all of her family could truly relax. 

BRITANNIA FACTS

Britannia was ordered in writing on 5^th February 1952, by King George VI, who died the following day.

She was built by the Clydebank shipyard, John Brown & Co, and launched on 16^th April 1953.

The yacht is 125.65 metres or 412 feet and 3 inches long and had a maximum speed of 22.5knots.

The engines were shut down for the last time on 22^nd November 1997, after the yacht completed her final tour of duty at the handing over of Hong Kong to China in June 1997, and driving her for 1,087,623 nautical miles in her lifetime.

It took three hours to prepare the table for State Banquets.

BRITANNIA OPENING & ADMISSION

Britannia is open daily throughout the year except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

 November to March: 10.00am with last admission at 3.30pm.

April to October: 9.30am with last admission at 4.30pm.

Adults £9.00

Senior Citizens £7.00

Children (5-17) £5.00 (Under 5’s free)

Family Ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £25.00

Other discounts available.

Tel: +44 (0) 131 555 5566

Website: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

TRAVEL

Airlink 100 Bus Service operates between the Airport and Edinburgh City Centre every 15 minutes.

Service 22 operates between the City Centre and Ocean Terminal every 10 minutes.

Tel: +44 (0) 131 555 6363

Website: www.lothianbuses.co.uk