the royal yacht photos

Photos show what it's like onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, the queen's 'floating palace' that she took on lavish vacations

• The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997.
• It's five stories tall, had more than 240 staff, and was known as the queen's "floating palace."
• Britannia is now anchored in Leith, Scotland, and reopens as a tourist attraction on May 12.

For 44 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia carried the queen and members of the royal family around the world.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia

Built in 1953, it logged more than 1 million miles and became known as the queen's "floating palace."

The five-story ship was part royal residence and part Royal Navy ship, with a full-time staff of more than 240 royal yachtsmen and officers.

The queen traveled on the ship for tours abroad, during which she would meet with dignitaries both on land and onboard.

She also used it for vacations like the royal family's annual summer cruise to the Western Isles of Scotland.

The queen once said that "Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax."

Four royal couples used the ship for their honeymoons, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.

In 1997, the Labour government decommissioned the ship, citing costs as a primary reason. The Britannia cost about £11 million to run each year, Reuters reported.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , Reuters

While the queen has yet to build a new yacht, that wasn't the end of the Royal Yacht Britannia.

One year later, it opened as a public museum in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The ship is set to reopen on May 12, almost six months after it closed in November due to the pandemic.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , BBC

Visitors will be able to step into spaces like the teak-lined sun lounge, the queen's favorite room, where she took her breakfast and afternoon tea.

The queen's bedroom, featuring a vanity table, writing desk, and twin bed, is also on display. The queen and Prince Philip slept separately while onboard the Britannia.

The largest room on the ship is the state dining room, where the queen entertained dignitaries like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher. The room could fit 56 guests.

Nearby is the state drawing room, which served as a place for the royal family to relax as well as a reception area for guests.

Toward the front of the ship are rooms where the staff lived and operated, like the 24-hour laundry room. Here, yachtsmen and officers would change outfits up to six times per day.

The former royal yachtsmen, known as "yotties," now reunite annually to help maintain the ship.

The clocks on the Royal Yacht Britannia don't get touched. They are permanently stopped at 3:01 p.m., the time when the queen stepped off the ship for the last time.

Prince Philip once said that the ship occupies a unique place in royal history. "Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace, or just a house," he said, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. "The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia."

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The Royal Yacht Britannia : A History of Queen Elizabeth II’s Favorite Palace

By Lisa Liebman

The christening of The Royal Yacht Britannia serves as a cheeky season opener to  The Crown . Black-and-white Pathé News–style footage shows a soon-to-be-crowned Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) cheered on by shipbuilders as she launches her new 412-foot yacht. “I hope that this brand-new vessel, like your brand-new queen, will prove to be dependable and constant. Capable of weathering any storm,” she says about the royal replacement for the  Victoria and Albert III . By the series’ season finale, set 44 years later, both the sovereign and the floating palace she christened  Britannia will have hit rough seas—the cost of repairing the creaky old vessel and the modern role of the monarchy both in question. Ultimately, the yacht that undertook 968 official voyages all over the world, hosting dignitaries—including 13 US presidents—at receptions and banquets, was dry-docked near Edinburgh, Scotland, where it continues to be a popular tourist attraction. Here are some of the most buoyant facts about the palace the Queen famously said was “the one place where I can truly relax.”

The sun room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981. 

In a nod to the country’s post-war austerity, Elizabeth scaled back the design of the ship that her father, King George VI, had commissioned just two days before he died. Rather than following the opulent plan laid out by the Scottish firm McInnes Gardner & Partners, she opted for the understated elegance envisioned by architect Sir Hugh Casson, who described “running a lawn mower over the Louis XVIl adornments” in favor of simple white walls, lilac-gray carpeting, and “a bit of gilding in grand places.” Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Phillip, were said to have personally chosen the furniture—much of it, including linens, recycled from the  Victoria and Albert —fabrics (florals, chintz, toile), and paintings. 

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on board the Royal Yacht Britannia as they prepare to depart on their honeymoon cruise in 1981.

As a former Royal Navy Commander, Prince Phillip also saw to the ship’s technical details, and his Bluebottle racing yacht inspired the Britannia ’s navy-hued hull. Outer decks were made of two-inch Burmese teak. The steering wheel was reclaimed from Britannia ’s namesake, King Edward VII’s 1893 racing yacht; a wheelhouse wheel came from George V’s racing yacht; and a gold-and-white binnacle (housing the ship’s compass) was salvaged from King George III’s yacht and installed on the Veranda deck. Fittings from former royal ships were also reused. 

The drawing room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1978. 

The 4,000-ton yacht had a crew of 220 Royal Yachtsmen who lived on board, about 45 household staff, and occasionally a 26-member Royal Marine embarked to entertain dignitaries. The monarch often welcomed guests from the ship’s grand staircase. (Stairs leading from the Veranda to the Royal deck were sometimes transformed into a water slide for the kids.)  Britannia ’s apartments were designed like those of a first-class ocean liner. A 56-seat state dining room, where many of the gifts given to the monarch (a wood-carved shark from Pitcairn Island, a bejeweled gold statue from Bangkok) were displayed, was the scene of formal dinners with guests such as Sir Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. More intimate gatherings were held in the Queen’s official reception room, a smaller state drawing room with floral upholstered pieces, simple wood tables, an electric fireplace, and a Welmar baby grand piano bolted to the deck—played by everyone from Sir Noël Coward to Princesses Diana and Margaret. The teak-clad sun lounge, with rattan furniture and a toile loveseat, was Elizabeth’s favorite place—where she had her breakfast, afternoon tea, and also enjoyed her favorite Dubonnet and gin cocktails.

The Queen’s sitting room on the Royal Yacht Britannia as photographed in 1981. 

By Blake Bakkila

By Katarina Kovac

By Mel Studach

A ship elevator reserved for royal use moved between the Upper and Shelter Decks. The latter is where four Royal Apartments (bedrooms), including the Queen and Prince Phillip’s connecting compartments, were located. Hers featured florals, his had red accents. Elizabeth’s understated Upper Deck private sitting room, done in pastels and neutrals, served as the office where she conducted state business. Phillip used his sitting room, with its wood desk facing a model of his first command, the HMS Magpie , as his study. Below deck there was a wine cellar, as well as a cargo hold that could carry a barge, speed- and sailboats, plus a royal Range Rover and Rolls-Royce. The yacht could also be converted into a hospital (though it never was).

The Queen shed a tear at the decommissioning ceremony for thye Royal Yacht Britannia.

As depicted in  The Crown, Britannia ’s final official trip was to Hong Kong in 1997, where Prince Charles attended the handover of the territory to China. By then, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s administration was complaining that the £11 million a year needed to keep the boat afloat couldn’t be justified. With Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, and all of their children in attendance,  Britannia was decommissioned at a ceremony in Portsmouth, England on December 11, 1997, with the monarch seen wiping away a tear. The yacht, now docked in Leith, Scotland, is open to the public as a museum and events space. (Prior to their wedding, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips’s daughter Zara Phillips and her fiancé Mike Tindall had a celebration there.) Visitors will note that every clock on board reads 3:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked her beloved  Britannia for the final time on that December day.

By Claudia Williams

By Joyce Chen

By Charlotte Collins

Inside The Royal Yacht Britannia - incredible rare photos

The royal family's yacht is now decommissioned and here's a chance to see inside.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is a hit tourist attraction in Edinburgh, but it used to be a commissioned vessel frequently used by the royal family. Many royal fans may remember it from a Netflix episode of The Crown , and the late Queen Elizabeth II was so fond of it that she even shed a tear when it was decommissioned in 1997.

Take a look inside the amazing boat that has a fascinating history, checking out everything from the late Queen's bedroom to the awe-inspiring engine room…

The Queen's bedroom

A photograph from 1998, reveals the room Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II used to sleep in. The modest-sized bed and simple in-room desk are a far cry from the grand palaces the family are used to.

The royal dining room

An archived picture shows what the boat's dining room used to look like when dressed for special dinners. There are multiple oval, wooden tables, matching wooden chairs and flowers and lamps add to the decadent atmosphere.

A lovely sun room

One of the yacht's sitting rooms has two floral sofas which wouldn't look out of place in an actual royal residence. A collection of other furniture ranges from outdoor-style chairs to antique-looking side tables.

A top deck perfect for hosting

Zara and Mike Tindall used the boat to host a pre-wedding party, and pictures from the event show many members of the royal family on the top deck enjoying conversations and drinks.

READ:  Prince William and Princess Kate reveal how many staff they actually have

The engine room

A picture inside the engine room shows the inner workings of the ship. The Herald Scotland explains that there was reportedly a doormat at the edge of the engine room to ensure it was kept in immaculate condition.

Did you know, they may not have use of the royal yacht anymore, but they still use a royal train?

The royal train has been used by the royal family since 1840, and the nine-carriage Royal Train is equipped with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, a dining room that seats 12 people, and even an office.

SEE:  Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bittersweet moment packing up Frogmore Cottage caught on camera

It is the source of much fascination and has previously been featured in Channel 5 documentary, Secrets of the Royal Train.

In January this year, King Charles took his first ride on it since becoming monarch, travelling from Scotland to Manchester.

Queen Elizabeth II 's last journey on the locomotive was in June 2022 when she travelled to Edinburgh . 

In 2018, the then-newlywed Duchess of Sussex   travelled on the royal train to Cheshire with Her Majesty.

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A Floating Palace

Britannia was launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, on 16 April, 1953. For over 44 years the Royal Yacht served the Royal Family, travelling more than a million nautical miles to become one of the most famous ships in the world. To Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia provided the perfect Royal residence for glittering state visits, official receptions, Royal honeymoons a nd relaxing family holidays. For Great Britain, she was a majestic symbol of the Commonwealth and a proud ambassador  generating billions of pounds in trade deals. For the Royal Family and 220 dedicated crew of Royal Yachtsmen, she was home.

Today, Britannia is a five-star visitor attraction and exclusive evening events venue in Edinburgh.

Britannia Launch Video

Start at the Bridge, explore the State Apartments, Crew's Quarters and finish at the Engine Room.

View The Royal Residence

Discover why Britannia was so special for Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family.

Glance Below Decks

Find out about life on the ocean wave for the crew, the Royal Yachtsmen, also know as the ‘Yotties’.

The Britannia's Timeline

Britannia holds a special place in maritime history as the last in a long line of Royal Yachts.

Visiting Britannia

Tripadvisor’s No.1 UK Attraction 2023

Start your tour at our entrance, currently located on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal. Please note that tickets purchased in person are by card/contactless only. 

Please pre-book your tickets to guarantee admission.

Click on the Visit page  for more information before you visit.

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

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The Royal Yacht Britannia

Experience Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and explore this floating Royal residence with a fascinating audio tour of five decks (available in over 30 languages).

Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023, Best UK Attraction (Which magazine readers) and Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award winner 

Visit this award-winning attraction, just two miles from Edinburgh's city centre at Ocean Terminal.  The Royal Yacht Britannia played host to some of the world’s most famous people, from Nelson Mendela to Winston Churchill, but above all was home for the British Royal Family for over 40 years. Now you can discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences.

You'll receive a truly warm welcome at Britannia's Visitor Centre before you board this famous ship where you will discover the history of Royal Yachts and view displays and historical photographs of Britannia's fascinating past before boarding Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace.

What will you see?

• Tour Britannia’s five decks
• Feel like the captain of the ship in the Bridge
• Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments
• See Queen Elizabeth II's favourite room- the Sun Lounge
• Discover below decks in the Crew’s Quarters
• Admire a tour highlight, the gleaming Engine Room
• Take in the Royal Sailing Exhibition
• Enjoy soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones in the Royal Deck Tearoom and admire the stunning waterfront views.

The tour is available in:

• Audio handset tour, available in over 30 languages
• Children’s audio tour
• Audio tour for those with sight loss
• ASL and BSL tablet
• Braille script ​​​​​​ ​​​​​

Complete the Britannia experience with a visit to the  Gift Shop in Ocean Terminal, where you’ll find exclusive Britannia souvenirs, china, toys, gifts and nautical items.

Berthed just moments away, Britannia's sister ship, floating hotel Fingal, offers 22 luxurious cabins inspired by the former Northern Lighthouse Board tender's rich maritime heritage. For further information, visit Fingal's website .

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

-  All weather experience -  Highly accessible for wheelchair users, single buggies and those with limited mobility. Read our accessibility statement here . -  Free Annual Pass for 12 months admission included -  The entrance to Britannia is temporarily on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

How to get here?

By tram: Take the tram to stop 'Ocean Terminal' (Newhaven direction).

By bus:  Regal Tour Bus and Lothian Buses 10, 16, 34 and 35 run from the city centre towards Ocean Terminal. Majestic Tour buses depart regularly from Waterloo Place / St Andrew Square in the centre of Edinburgh. The Majestic Tour is operated by Edinburgh Bus Tours .

By train:  Arrive in the city centre at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, just 2 miles from Britannia. 

By car: Follow signs to Edinburgh and Leith or North Edinburgh. Then follow brown tourist signs for Britannia. Free car parking at Ocean Terminal (level C is nearest). For satnav our postcode is EH6 6JJ. Go inside the shopping centre for Britannia’s entrance and the start of the tour. By plane: Britannia is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh Airport.

For further information on finding Britannia, please see here .  

OPENING TIMES

Please check the Britannia website for full opening times and prices. EVENING EVENTS Exclusive dinners and receptions can be hosted on board. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 and see how we can create your event of a lifetime, or visit the events section of our website .

PRIVATE TOURS A private tour on board The Royal Yacht Britannia is an exclusive experience, giving you access to Britannia’s five decks, and a unique insight into the history of the Royal Yacht and how the Royal Family and crew lived and worked on board. Both Morning and Evening tours are available. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 or for more information visit click here . PRESERVING BRITANNIA Britannia is cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust , a self-funding charity registered in Scotland (SC028070). By visiting Britannia you will be helping us to preserve this important piece of history for future generations.

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Inside ‘Britannia,’ Queen Elizabeth II’s Floating Palace

The Royal Yacht, according to Her Majesty, was “the one place where I can truly relax.”

But Britannia was far more than a posh royal cruise liner. She was a showcase for cutting-edge naval engineering and the first royal yacht that could do double duty as a floating hospital in wartime, if necessary. In 1986, for instance, she rescued more than 1,000 refugees from South Yemen. Over the course of her 44 years in service, Britannia facilitated 968 official visits and traveled over one million nautical miles.

She was also, of course, a time capsule of the best British design of the time, in terms of both technological prowess and decoration. Read on for more about the ship’s history, and where the Royal Yacht Britannia is now (hint: You can visit !).

What’s the backstory of Britannia ?

This history of royal liners goes back centuries. In fact, Britannia was the 83rd royal yacht; the first, HMY Mary, was constructed in 1660 by the Dutch East India Company and given as a gift to Charles II. Britannia ’s predecessor, Victoria & Albert III, was completed in 1901 and used by Edward II up through George VI, but was decommissioned in 1939 and eventually broken up as scrap. A new yacht was commissioned on February 4, 1952, in an effort to help King George VI’s health, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia museum, but the king died just two days later. The task to oversee the construction of the new yacht, then, fell on the young Queen Elizabeth II.

Who Built the Royal Yacht Britannia ?

Britannia was designed by John Brown & Co., the same marine engineering firm that built the RMS Lusitania and the Queen Mary. Construction on Britannia began in June 1952, and she was launched in a ceremony on April 16, 1953. The young queen didn’t reveal the name of the liner until her televised address in which she proudly stated before roaring crowds, “I name this ship Britannia .” Notably, a bottle of wine as opposed to the more traditional Champagne, was smashed across the ship’s bow during the christening—Champagne would have been much too ostentatious amid postwar austerity.

Who designed the Royal Yacht Britannia ’s interiors?

According to a technical paper presented to the Institution of Naval Architects in the spring of 1954, the royal and state apartments were to be on par with those of a first-class ocean liner. “The suitability of the decorative design and the furnishing of the Royal and State apartments has, of course, been very important,” the paper noted.

At first, Patrick McBride of the Glasgow, Scotland–based firm, McInnes Gardner & Partners, was selected to design the interiors, but the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh rejected those plans, deeming them too lavish, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia museum. Sir Hugh Casson, the director of architecture at the 1951 Festival of Britain, was the perfect candidate, with his modern eye and lack of ostentation. The design, the architect later wrote in his diary, “was really running a lawn mower over the Louis XVIl adornments. I was going to concentrate on one-color carpet throughout, which was sort of lilac/gray, and all the walls would be white. The only enrichments would be a bit of gilding in grand places.”

Working with Casson, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were highly involved, giving input for everything ranging from the furniture (much of it salvaged from the vessel’s predecessor, Victoria & Albert III , as another way to appear thrifty) to the ship’s blue exterior paint, inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh’s racing yacht, Bluebottle. Apartments featured a design like an elegant-yet-muted English country house, filled with floral sofas and antiques. The state drawing room could accommodate up to 250 guests. The Queen’s favorite room was the sun lounge, with its warm teak walls and rattan furnishings, and views across the veranda deck.

“I suppose Britannia was rather special as far as we were concerned because we were involved from the very beginning in organizing the design and furnishing and equipping and hanging the pictures and everything else,” Prince Philip said in a 1995 documentary film about the yacht. “For us it was rather special because all the other places we live in have been built by our predecessors. They started building Windsor 1,000 years ago, and they built Balmoral 100 years ago, and they built Sandringham 70 or 90 years ago. So we, in a sense, had our own.”

So successful was the partnership that Casson would go on to become a dear friend of the royal family and design interiors for Buckingham Palace, Balmoral , and Windsor Castle

Britannia was also a second home for the royal children. Each was given a member of the crew or “sea daddy” to look after them. “We found as children that there was so much to do, we expended so much energy that we couldn’t describe our time on the yacht as a rest,” Princess Anne said. Milk was delivered fresh from a farmer each day for the royal children, according to letters from the ship’s Acting Captain J. S. Dalglish. Later, the yacht would become the venue for numerous royal honeymoons and vacations, including Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s infamous 1981 Mediterranean cruise.

Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia Now?

As documented in season 5 of The Crown , the Royal Yacht was decommissioned on December 11, 1997, at a ceremony in Portsmouth, U.K., after nearly half a century in service and having traveled more than one million nautical miles. In addition to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward all attended the ceremony. As the British ensign was lowered to the tune of a navy band, Her Majesty was photographed blinking back tears .

Britannia was retired to Port of Leith in Edinburgh. Today, as one of the most popular tourist sites in the U.K., she serves as a museum and receives some 350,000 visitors per year who can tour the State dining room, the Queen’s bedroom, and sun lounge, as well as view the engine room and crew’s cabins. Visitors can even have tea and scones on the royal deck. The majority of the items on display are original to the yacht and are on loan from the Royal Collection.

In a bizarre 21st-century twist, former British prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans to build a Britannia successor, a £250 million yet-to-be-named, taxpayer-funded superyacht to operate as a “floating embassy.” The new British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, recently torpedoed those plans in favor of building a surveillance ship.

Anna Fixsen, Deputy Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, focuses on how to share the best of the design world through in-depth reportage and online storytelling. Prior to joining the staff, she has held positions at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record magazines. elledecor.com 

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16 Photos Of The Royal Family On The Britannia

So many couples honeymooned on the grand yacht.

Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

The Royal Yacht Britannia went into production in 1952 and is the setting for various parts of The Crown . In the first episode of Season 5, the costly ship’s reparations are controversial, as the Queen asks Prime Minister John Major for funding.

Keystone/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images

Here, Elizabeth II makes her way to the launching ceremony for the yacht in April 1953. Britannia traveled more than one million nautical miles during her tenure, according to the yacht’s official website.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia in photos

As it celebrates 60 years since its official launch, we bring you photos of the Royal Yacht Britannia from past to present

On 16 April 1953 the Royal Yacht Britannia was launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank by Her Majesty the Queen, although the ship didn’t embark on her first voyage until the following year.

For over 44 years she served the Royal Family as its official yacht, clocking up over one million miles to become the most famous ship in the world.

At 380ft long and powered by two geared steam turbines, with a total of 12,000 shaft horse power, she could reach speeds of up to 22 knots and had a range of 2500 miles.

Currently berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, the Royal Yacht Britannia is now a popular tourist attraction. To find out more about this magnificent ship click here . VIEW OUR GALLERY OF ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA PHOTOS

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The Story Behind the Royal Family's Yacht, Britannia

The ship hosted four royal honeymoons in its 44 years of service.

Often referred to as the last royal yacht, the Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, and despite some efforts , there are no signs of a new one in the near future. Though its seafaring days may be behind it (the ship now serves as a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland), the Britannia remains an important artifact and a peek behind the curtain of royal life—it even garnered a prominent place in the fifth season of The Crown . Below, a few of its most notable moments throughout history.

It was the first royal yacht designed for ocean travel.

The ship was built by John Brown & Co at the same shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland in the same location the famous ocean liners the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were constructed. With 12,000 horsepower, the ship could travel at a maximum 22.5 knots (approximately 25 miles per hour), ideal for ocean-going diplomacy. Prior to its launch in 1953, the royal family used ships from the Royal Navy or even passenger liners for the overseas portions of the royal tour.

In its 44 years of service, the HMY Britannia traveled around 1.1 million miles.

It was commissioned just two days before the death of King George VI.

The King was already in failing health by the time the designs for the HMY Britannia were submitted, and the hope was that traveling might help alleviate some of his symptoms. However, just two days after the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland received the order the King passed away on February 6, 1952.

It would take just over a year for the ship to be completed, during which time its name remained a secret—it wasn't announced until the ship's official launch in April of 1953, less than two months before the Queen's coronation . Elizabeth cracked a bottle of English wine (in the post-war era, champagne was considered too extravagant for the launch of a ship) and announced, "I name this ship Britannia … I wish success to her and all who sail in her."

It was created to double as a hospital.

When Britannia was first envisioned, less than a decade after the end of World War II, the designers sought to make it as functional as possible, crafting a space that could be converted from an ocean-going royal residence to a seafaring hospital during any possible future wartime. The main veranda was laid out and re-enforced so that it could support a helicopter landing and the laundry was made much larger than on a standard naval vessel to accommodate the potential patients. Though the ship was never actually put to that purpose, it was pressed into service on a rescue mission to help evacuate European nationals from South Yemen in 1986.

The ship was home to a lot of history.

Long before it became a floating museum, the Britannia had an eye for history. The gold and white binnacle housed on the ship's veranda deck was originally part of the HMY Royal George , a royal yacht that served Queen Victoria . Likewise, some of the bed linens used by Queen Elizabeth aboard the vessel were originally made for Victoria's bed for one of the previous royal yachts.

Britannia's steering wheel was lifted from her namesake, the racing yacht HMY Britannia , built in 1893 for King Edward VII .

It was redesigned to be less opulent.

Despite the sense of luxury that the term "royal yacht" inspires, the Queen and Prince Philip were actually concerned when they began overseeing the project in 1952 that the original interior design plans by the design firm McInnes Gardner & Partners were too lavish for a country still recovering from the war. The interiors were ultimately redesigned by Sir Hugh Casson and received very minimal updates throughout her 44 years of service.

But it still had homey touches—by royal standards.

Suffice to say that even low-key royal living is a fairly high class. In addition to the 56-seat State Dining Room, which hosted luminaries including Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, Nelson Mandela, and multiple US Presidents, the ship also sported a formal staircase where the Queen would greet guests, separate bedrooms and sitting rooms for both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, and a phone system designed to match the unique configurations of Buckingham Palace's telephones.

In the early years of the Britannia's life it was also home to the Queen's Rolls-Royce Phantom V which was hoisted and lowered from a special garage compartment at port so that the Queen could drive her own car at each location. The space was ever so slightly too small, forcing the bumpers to be removed in order to get it into the garage without damage and then refitted when the car was removed. Ultimately Elizabeth began using cars provided for her at port instead and the garage was converted into a storage area for beer.

The steering crew couldn't see where they were going.

Life on board the HMY Britannia was far from typical for her crew. To begin with, due to the prestige and pressure of the position, the commanding officer of the royal yacht was always a flag officer, most commonly a Rear Admiral, although the first two to serve were Vice Admirals, and Britannia 's final CO was a Commodore.

While working, the crew reportedly used hand signals to communicate rather than shouting orders, in order to maintain a sense of quiet and calm for the royal residents. It was also the last ship in the royal navy where the crew members slept in hammocks, a practice that they maintained until 1973.

Perhaps the most unusual element of the ship's functioning, though, was the steering. While on most ships, the steering wheel sits on the bridge, overlooking the front of the vessel, Britannia 's was on the deck below, in the wheelhouse, which meant that the yachtsmen who were actually doing the steering couldn't see where they were going. The crew got around this rather surprising pitfall by using voice pipes from the bridge to confer navigational orders.

It was a royal honeymoon essential.

No fewer than four royal couples celebrated their honeymoons in the HMY Britannia 's honeymoon suite (the only room onboard with a double bed.)

Princess Margaret started the tradition in 1960 for her Caribbean honeymoon with Anthony Armstrong-Jones , a quiet, formal affair where dinners were taken in full evening dress every night. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Princess Anne on her honeymoon with Captain Mark Phillips in 1973—storms and 20-foot waves left the couple stricken with seasickness for the first week of their Caribbean cruise. Prince Charles and Princess Diana famously spent their 1981 honeymoon on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the yacht. The crew managed to duck the press so efficiently they garnered the nickname "the ghost ship." The final royal honeymoon aboard the Britannia was taken by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson , Duchess of York in 1986 when the couple traveled around the Azores.

And a family vacation spot.

In addition to her diplomatic duties on royal tours and her service as a post-wedding retreat, the Britannia was also a vessel for family vacations. During the summer months, the royal family would often take off on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around the western isles of Scotland. During the trip, the family would play games and have barbecues on the islands. The stairway off of the veranda was sometimes even converted into a waterslide for the younger royals. The tour often included a stop off at the Castle of Mey to visit the Queen Mother, then making berth in Aberdeen so that the Queen could travel to her favorite summer home, Balmoral .

The Queen openly wept when HMY Britannia was decommissioned in 1997.

With so many memories around the yacht, it's not hard to understand why the decommissioning of the Britannia was upsetting for the royal family. Though plans were initially drawn up for a replacement yacht, the government ultimately determined not to fund the effort. After the Queen officially took her leave of it in 1997, the ship was placed in the port of Leith in Scotland where it serves as a floating museum and events venue . All of the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time.

It was used for a reception for Zara Phillips before her wedding.

Though it's no longer used as their private vessel, the Britannia 's connection to the royal family didn't end in 1997. In 2011 on the night before her wedding, the Queen's oldest granddaughter Zara Phillips contracted the ship for a reception. Though her grandmother wasn't in attendance Zara celebrated her upcoming marriage to Mike Tindall onboard along with her mother and her cousins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice.

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

What to Know About the Royal Yacht Britannia Featured on 'The Crown' Season 5

The Royal Yacht Britannia served as the official royal yacht of the British monarchy for 44 years

The Crown is diving into royal events from the '90s in season 5 , and that includes the decommissioning of Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, also known as the Royal Yacht Britannia.

In the first episode of the new season, Claire Foy ( who portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in seasons 1 and 2) reprises her role as the monarch as a flashback shows the yacht's official launch in April 1953.

At the time, the new yacht held special significance as it was launched by the Queen just before her own coronation in June 1953 .

Through the years, the vessel sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the royal family as they entertained prime ministers and presidents, per the Royal Yacht Britannia website. It also served as the venue for several royal honeymoons , including Princess Diana and Princes Charles in 1981 .

From when it was commissioned to where the Royal Yacht Britannia is now, here's everything to know about the royal yacht.

When was the Royal Yacht Britannia commissioned?

As shown on The Crown , Royal Yacht Britannia was officially launched on April 16, 1953 , at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, where Queen Elizabeth unveiled the yacht's official name.

Following Queen Elizabeth 's coronation on June 2, 1953, the Royal Yacht Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy on January 11, 1954, before sailing her first overseas port on April 22.

How big is the Royal Yacht Britannia?

The Royal Yacht Britannia is about 412 feet long , with a beam width of 55 feet and five decks , and weighs over 4,000 tons.

Who used the Royal Yacht Britannia?

The yacht was described as the royal family's "floating residence" during its 44 years of service. As it was used to host "magnificent state receptions and banquets, and guests ," numerous world leaders boarded the yacht over the years, including Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan and Rajiv Gandhi.

Per the Royal Yacht Britannia website, the yacht also " allowed the Royal Family some rare privacy away from their public duties and was famously described by HM Queen Elizabeth II as 'the one place I can truly relax.' "

Furthermore, the Royal Yacht Britannia was the venue of four royal honeymoons : Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. All four royal marriages ended in divorce, which Queen Elizabeth famously reflected on in her 1992 speech where she referred to the past year as her "annus horribilis ," or horrible year.

When was the Royal Yacht Britannia decommissioned?

The yacht's retirement was announced in 1994 as a result of the substantial costs needed to repair the ship. It was estimated that the cost would £17 million, which would only prolong the yacht for another five years.

On December 11, 1997, the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned during an official ceremony that was attended by most of the senior members of the royal family. It was been reported that Queen Elizabeth was seen uncharacteristically shedding a tear during the decommissioning.

"Looking back over 44 years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction," the Queen said at the time .

Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia now?

Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, people can now visit the Royal Yacht Britannia at Port of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland. Visitors are able to see various parts of the yacht including Britannia's five decks, the state apartments, as well as the Sun Lounge, which was the Queen's favorite room in which to have her afternoon tea.

Does the Royal Yacht Britannia have a successor?

Plans for a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia first began in 2019 when it was reported that the late Sir Donald Gosling had donated £50 million to pay for the construction . In 2021, the yacht was commissioned by Boris Johnson to host trade fairs and diplomatic events and it was expected to go into service in 2024 or 2025.

However, in November 2022, it was reported by BBC that plans for the yacht were being scrapped as the government "searches for spending cuts." The new yacht was estimated to cost up to £250 million.

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31 of the most heart-warming royal childhood photos

Posted: June 18, 2024 | Last updated: June 18, 2024

They might grow up on the world stage, but these photos prove plenty of royals have relatable, sweet childhood memories

William Shakespeare famously wrote "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown" - and he wasn't wrong.

The Royal Family - for all their glittering tiaras and enviable tours spanning the globe - face the sort of pressures and scrutiny many cannot comprehend.

Which is why it's refreshing that these photos - be it Prince William and Prince Harry doing relatable things like visiting theme parks to playing around or rarer photos of senior royals before life in the monarchy loomed - prove that, despite what the future might have in store, the royals still get plenty of happy childhood days.

Prince Louis cuddles with mum

One of the youngest of the royal children, Prince Louis is known for stealing the show (and hearts around the world). Despite his young years meaning he sometimes misses out on some events attended by his older siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, he really makes the most of his heart-warming appearances with his family.

Proving that, just like any child, Mum is a safe space, Louis snuggled up to Kate Middleton during an adorable moment captured during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Princes William and Harry - and their rocking horse

These partners might have hit a bump in the road following Harry's decision to leave life as a working royal (and the subsequent publication of his book, Spare), but as young siblings, Princes William and Harry had a rocking time together.

Taken at Kensington Palace in 1985 - the home they grew up in and where Princess Diana was allowed to remain following her split from King Charles up until she died in 1997 - a three-year-old William and his younger brother giddy on up on their respective rocking horses. The pair even wore matching outfits for the sweet snap, both sporting a blue-and-white checked shirt.

Prince William practices his showmanship

As a future King, Prince William has had to learn to be a natural in front of the camera - but he's always had a cheeky way of commanding attention as this heart-warming photo proved.

In the sweet snap, the two-year-old Prince is loving being the centre of attention at a press call which took place at Kensington Palace to mark his birthday.

One is not amused

Heart-warming and a delightful reminder that, royal or not, a child will still be a child, a young Prince Charles was caught looking hilariously unimpressed at the coronation of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

He was stood with his mother, Queen Elizabeth - best known as The Queen Mother - and his aunt, Princess Margaret.

Aged four years old at the time, formality still reigned supreme for the royals. Despite being his mother, the then Prince Charles received a special hand-painted children's invitation to the Coronation.

Charles and Anne at play

King Charles and Princess Anne's sweet sibling bond has been an important relationship for both senior royals throughout the years.

Born less than two years apart, the siblings were both incredibly young when their mother, Queen Elizabeth II, became the youngest-ever monarch at just 21. As their mother's life changed, so did theirs, with Charles becoming the heir apparent.

Despite all the future titles and pressures awaiting, these cute photos prove that they were still able to have a fun childhood, playing and giggling together.

William helps Harry learn to walk

Prince Harry let his complicated feelings about Prince William be known in his bombshell memoir, Spare.

Dubbing him both his "beloved brother" and "arch nemesis" at the same time, it's at least heart-warming to know that things were, at one time, much better between the brothers.

In this adorable photo, William is shown being a protective older brother, instinctively leaping into action to help Harry attempt some first, uneasy steps.

A simple family picnic

The late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip famously had a love for the simpler things, being at their happiest when out and about at Balmoral and getting to be a regular family together.

In a sweet photo, the then family of five (Prince Edward wouldn't be born for another 12 years after this) posed in the grounds of Balmoral with huge grins - and joined by some of their family pets.

Birthdays with the grandparents

In 1951, the Royal Family got together to celebrate the third birthday of Prince Charles. The first grandchild of King George VI and the Queen Mother, the pair look delighted to simply be playing the role of grandparents as they pose with Charles and his younger sister, Princess Anne.

This heart-warming photo becomes more special because it would be one of the last where the future King, Charles, got to sit for a photograph with his grandfather. George VI died in February 1952, three months later.

Prince George sees butterflies

Prince George was the child who made Prince William and Kate Middleton parents, and royal fans were delighted to watch the pair grow from young love birds to a family.

Inviting fans into some of their most special moments, one such heart-warming memory shared was George's first birthday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a photo of the young family at the Natural History Museum in London in 2014, where George is full of awe at a butterfly. A reminder to look at life through the eyes of a child.

William and Harry with Gran

To most people, Queen Elizabeth II was an icon - a permanent presence for a history-making 70 years on the throne.

However, for the likes of a young Prince William and Prince Harry in 1987, she was just their grandmother. The couple enjoyed what appeared to be a fun day out at the Polo, smiling and listening intently as the horse-mad monarch shared her wisdom with her grandsons.

A young Elizabeth with her dogs

The late Queen's corgis were an iconic and symbiotic part of her historic 70-year reign. She made the dog breed synonymous with palaces and royalty, and it turns out, her bond to the breed was a lifelong one.

In heart-warming snaps of a young Princess who would have no idea she'd go on to become Britain's longest-serving monarch in history, a young Elizabeth is caught playfully scooping up her dogs and giving one an affectionate hug.

These photos are dated 1936, meaning the young Princess would only have been about 10 years old.

Diana takes her boys to the theme park

Princess Diana was a fun mum, and the evidence is all over her son's beaming faces as she tried to help them experience some normal childhood memories during a visit to Thorpe Park in 1993.

Touching on the heart-warming way Diana raised him and his brother, Harry paid tribute at a tenth-anniversary service in 2007.

Per BBC , he said, "William and I can separate life into two parts. There were those years when we were blessed with the physical presence beside us of both our mother and father.

"And then there are the 10 years since our mother’s death. When she was alive we completely took for granted her unrivalled love of life, laughter, fun and folly. She was our guardian, friend and protector."

Fate would give these two sisters very different paths, but, in this heart-warming photo taken before their father became King, making Elizabeth the heir, they were simply two sisters having plenty of fun.

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret became very different as time went by - with Elizabeth the dutiful Queen for 70 years and Margaret the larger-than-life sassy Princess, but they remained incredibly close.

They were so close that they had a direct phone line between their homes so they could talk to each other whenever they wished, royal family friend Reinaldo Herrera wrote in Vanity Fair .

Prince William and his pony

A love of horses runs through the Royal Family, with the late Queen Elizabeth having a lifelong affinity.

Like the young Queen who got her first pony as a young child, this heart-warming photo of a young Prince William shows his natural touch with animals as he gently steers a pony around a field.

Extra sweet points for his Mickey Mouse jumper.

Prince Harry is all snuggles with mum

The joy and comfort on Prince Harry's face is heart-warming enough, and it showed how safe and happy the young prince was with his mother, the late Princess Diana.  Pictured while on holiday in Palma de Mallorca in 1987, the young prince looks totally adorable in pink dungarees and a red t-shirt.

Prince William and Charlotte enjoying dad and daughter time

Princess Charlotte is the only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and, while we couldn't possibly speculate, there's probably no doubt that Charlotte has learnt how to be a true daddy's girl.

Prince William looked full of pride as he posed with Charlotte on the slopes in 2016.

The young Princess flashes the most heart-warming grin, perfect for fending off the cold as they pose at the French Alps.

Letting little brother take the wheel

Prince Edward and his oldest brother, the now King Charles, had a relatively big age gap - with 16 years separating the siblings.

But, even with the now King being a sullen teenager when this heart-warming photo was taken, he proved that he would always be a fun and supportive role model for his youngest brother.

Having fun with Edward, the pair were snapped racing Princess Anne in go-karts.

Smiles from Prince Archie

Prince Archie's arrival in 2019 turned Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from a couple of loved-up newlyweds to a family. They would grow their brood in in 2021, when Princess Lilibet was born.

The Sussexes tend to keep their children out of the spotlight, which is what makes this sweet photo of Mum, Dad and Archie all the more heart-warming.

Everyone - including the young prince - are all smiles during an official meeting with Desmond Tutu.

Cousins hit the slopes

The royals sharing the trait of being sporty is something that definitely strengthens their bond, and it seemingly starts from a young age.

In a heart-warming photo capturing the closeness between cousins, Princes William and Harry enjoy a family vacation to the slopes with their cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

It's especially heartening to see Prince William step into protective older cousin mode, assisting his cousin with her ski gear.

William's first salute?

Looking like butter wouldn't melt, a young Prince William posed in the Parachute Regiment Uniform at the gardens of King Charles' Highgrove estate in 1986.

While it can't be confirmed, this could be one of the Prince's first military salutes caught on camera - but far from his last. After university, William trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before serving with the Blues and Royals.

He also flew for the RAF search and rescue team and served as an ambulance pilot for two years.

The Queen and her two youngest boys

This cosy glimpse into the special bond between the late Queen Elizabeth II and her two youngest sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, was taken at Buckingham Palace during the 1971 Christmas Day television broadcast.

The sweet photo captures a moment of calm and unity that every family could relate to during the festivities.

Brothers at play

Dressed in matching periwinkle blue coats, a young Prince William and Harry are snapped playing on a vintage fire engine on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk in 1988.

Both look fascinated by the vintage vehicle as their father, King Charles, watches over his curious sons.

Princess Margaret and her children

While Princess Margaret may be more famous for her decadent morning rituals and iconic looks, she also loved spending quality time with the family.

Margaret had two children from her first marriage - David Armstrong-Jones and Lady Sarah Chatto.

Lady Sarah, with a cute bow matching her mother's style, is all grins in the photo.

Per the Express , Margaret reportedly told the Queen before her death, "I may not have achieved very much - but I at least feel my life has not been wasted, because I have produced two happy and well-adjusted children."

Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie have long been a favourite couple for royal fans, known for being low-key but a source of strength to the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.

So it's no surprise that their family days out were equally as relatable and heart-warming, taking Lady Louise and James out for a fun day out when they were younger.

The young James is all energy in his parent's arms as Louise looks adorable in her pink jacket and cap, sticking close to her parents.

Prince George keeps watch over Princess Charlotte

This heart-warming photo might have been taken at the christening of Princess Charlotte, but it's George who stole hearts with his adorable, instinctive big brotherly nature shining through.

Having to stand on his tiptoes, the young Prince keeps a watchful eye over his younger sister as she is pushed around in her pram.

Charlotte and Louis hold hands

King Charles III's Coronation in 2023 was one for the history books - the first crowning of a British monarch in 70 years, succeeding the longest serving sovereign of all time.

But, despite all the pomp and circumstance, some moments really shone through and captured that this was a family affair - like the heart-warming photo of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis holding hands as they witnessed their grandfather's historic day.

It showed Charlotte being the perfect bigger sister, keeping a watchful and caring eye over her youngest brother.

William and Harry head off to school

Is there anything more heartwarming than a first-day back-to-school photo? Most parents would argue it's a day of mixed emotions - watching their children blossom but also realising they're growing up quickly.

In snaps of William and Harry heading off to Wetherby School, Notting Hill, a young Harry can't help but look back to his older brother for some moral support on the big change as Princess Diana looks on lovingly.

Prince George gets a very special visitor

In any circumstances, seeing Prince George in his comfy looking robe, cosy as anything in Kensington Palace would be heart-warming enough. But in 2016, George met none other than President Barack Obama while kitted out in his fleecy robe.

The adorable encounter saw President Obama crouch down to greet the Prince, who surely must have stayed up past his bedtime.

For his late night efforts, he was reportedly gifted a wooden rocking horse by the President and First Lady Michelle.

Princess Charlotte keeps Kate busy

Being the only daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, one might assume Princess Charlotte was the archetypal typical princess - but, like her sporty, trailblazing mother, Charlotte proved she could keep more active and energised than anyone.

Running around and keeping her mum on her toes, the heart-warming photos of Charlotte ruling the roost were a real treat for fans of the Wales family.

Prince William and Princess Diana

These heart-melting photos of the Prince of Wales and his late mother, Princess Diana capture a truly loving moment between mother and son.

Being completely unguarded and affectionate, Prince William doesn't care about showing his mum plenty of affection as they attended the International Horse Show in Olympia, West London in 1990.

Prince Louis and his grandpa

Prince Louis melted plenty of hearts when he simply couldn't resist cuddling up to his grandfather during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Louis was given the middle name Charles, in honour of his grandfather, and it's heart-warming to see their bond.

In 2013, Charles opened up about how he feels about being a grandparent, telling  the Telegraph , being a grandparent is a "different part of your life."

"Show them things to take their interest. My grandmother did that; she was wonderful. It is very important to create a bond when they are very young."

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Kate middleton to make first public appearance since cancer reveal at trooping the colour: ‘there are good days and bad days’.

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Kate Middleton will make her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March at King Charles III’s birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, on Saturday, Page Six can confirm.

“I’m looking forward to attending the king’s birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” the Princess of Wales said in a statement Friday alongside a photo of her taken in Windsor, England, earlier this week.

“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.”

It was previously reported that Middleton, 42, may not return to her royal duties for the remainder of the year, but she said she is taking life one day at a time, as her health is an ever-changing situation.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said.

“On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

Middleton also shared that her chemo treatment is “ongoing” and set to continue for “a few more months.”

“On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she added.

We’re told the princess has been working from home the past few months, including participating in briefings with her teams at Kensington Palace, the Royal Foundation and the Centre for Early Childhood.

She has also attended a few meetings relating to other work and projects.

Middleton, however, opted to skip out on Easter service in March, making the Trooping of the Colour appearance that much more significant.

More must-see royals coverage:

• How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met
• Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship timeline
• Royal family tree and line of succession

Page Six is told the mother of three will arrive Saturday via a state carriage with her children — Prince 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — and she will watch the parade from the Major General’s Office with the rest of the family, including her husband, Prince William.

She is also expected to make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the royal family’s annual photo op , but those plans are subject to change depending on her condition the day of the occasion.

Last week, Middleton — who has been confirmed to still serve as the honorary colonel of the Irish Guards at Trooping the Colour — apologized for missing out on a rehearsal and not taking the salute.

“I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate,” she wrote to the guards in a statement shared June 8.

“Being your colonel remains a great honor, and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel’s Review.”

We’re told that, under the current circumstances, Lieutenant General James Bucknall will take the salute on the princess’s behalf.

“Thank you so much for your continued understanding and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me,” Middleton added in her message Friday.

“I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”

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Page Six told that William, 41, is “pleased” to see that his wife is joining him again in a public engagement. He will be focused on supporting her and their kids Saturday while continuing his duties.

Charles, 75, is also “delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events and is much looking forward to all elements of the day,” according to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.

Middleton’s comeback should not be seen as confirmation that she will participate in all future royal events, however. She’ll decide which she will attend with the support and guidance of her medical team.

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Every must-see photo from the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance of the year

Her royal highness was seen smiling with her husband and kids.

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The Princess of Wales made her long-awaited first public appearance of the year at Trooping the Colour. Her Royal Highness joined her husband Prince William and their kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis , at King Charles ’ birthday parade on June 15.

Prior to Trooping the Colour, Catherine’s last official appearance was back in December on Christmas Day . The following month, the Princess underwent major abdominal surgery, and in late February, she started a course of preventative chemotherapy . The day before Trooping the Colour, Catherine revealed in a personal message that she is “making good progress,” and that her “treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months.”

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The Princess also shared that she was looking forward to attending the King’s birthday parade with her family and that she hopes “to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.”

Scroll for every must-see photo of the Princess of Wales from her first official appearance of 2024...

The Princess of Wales was the picture of elegance at her first official public appearance of 2024.

Catherine confirmed the day before Trooping the Colour that she would be at the event. In a message released on June 14, Her Royal Highness said: “I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family.”

The royal mom of three traveled in the Glass Coach with her kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The stylish royal updated a previously worn Jenny Packham dress for the occasion.

Charlotte and her mother looked nautical in dresses that both featured bows.

The Princess joined her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Catherine stood beside her father-in-law, King Charles. His Majesty, who was diagnosed with a form of cancer earlier this year, praised his “beloved daughter-in-law” after her health announcement in March. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time that the King was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.”

Her Royal Highness appeared in high spirits, smiling with her husband and children.

The outing marked the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since Christmas Day 2023.

Catherine was on mom duty, fixing her daughter’s hair.

William and Catherine exchanged loving looks while on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their kids.

When the Princess announced in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy, she said that “having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance.”

While Catherine was out for Trooping the Colour on June 15, her appearance should not be seen as a return to a full schedule of public engagements.

The Princess and her medical team have made it clear that going about her normal life and doing some of the things she enjoys is an integral part of her recovery.

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