P&O’s big day in pictures

The curse of the British summer put paid to the Red Arrows display for P&O’s Grand Event – as it did a month earlier for Cunard’s Jubilee tribute. The rain also made it impossible to take any decent photographs of the flotilla of seven ships in procession down Southampton Water, so here’s a selection of pictures from the drier part of the day.
Princess Anne, at a reception on board Oriana, cuts an elaborate cake made by celebrity patissier Eric Lanlard. Picture by Ben Fitzpatrick
Earlier, she was welcomed to the proceedings by P&O life president Lord Sterling. Picture by Ben Fitzpatrick
There were countless cakes to mark the anniversary – there could even have been 175. This one is being cut by Azura’s godmother, Darcey Bussell, flanked by Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle, and P&O managing director Carol Marlow. Picture by Steve Dunlop

The seven captains got their chance to shine, joined by Commodore Steve Burgoine (far left) They are (from left): Captain Ian Hutley, Adonia; Captain Trevor Lane, Oriana; Captain Ian Waters, Arcadia; Captain Neil Turnbull, Aurora; Captain Keith Dowds, Azura; Captain Simon Terry, Oceana; Captain Paul Brown Ventura.