Prince Philip’s Atlantic ambition

//Prince Philip’s Atlantic ambition

Prince Philip confided a long-held ambition today – he’s always wanted to sail across the Atlantic on board the QE2.
But it is an dream he will never realise. He was speaking at a farewell lunch for the Cunard liner which tonight sailed out of Southampton for the 726th and final time, en route to retirement in Dubai.
The Duke of Edinburgh said he had never managed to find the time to do the crossing, and joked: “At least I’ll get to have lunch on board.”
Prince Philip was in good form. Ships like the QE2, he said, could sometimes be a nuisance when he was sailing much smaller boats off Cowes.
One of his duties on the day was to hand over a magnificent painting of the most famous ship in the world to the city of Southampton.
“I didn’t paint it, I didn’t order it, but I’m handing it over to the Mayor. I hope he looks after it.”
The painting, by marine artist Robert Lloyd, was unveiled By the Queen in June, when she was on board for another celebratory lunch.
The Prince received a memento of the ship in the shape of one of its original turbine blades.
Making the presentation, Capt Ian McNaught said it had been difficult to choose a suitable gift. “If you ever want to build a turbine, you’ve got a head start,” he said.
After lunch a Harrier jump jet saluted the ship in recognition of its part in the Falklands conflict.
In the evening thousands gathered on the waterfront for a fireworks farewell to the vessel which was bought by Dubai for £50,000 and will be converted into a floating hotel.

By | 2017-06-15T16:00:51+00:00 11 November 2008|Cruise News|0 Comments

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John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.

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