Royal Yacht Britannia

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The Royal Yacht Britannia, Ocean Drive, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

Tel: 0131 555 5566 Email us: [email protected]

The Royal Yacht Britannia will be closed 4, 5 & 6 November for planned building works beyond our control

Royal Yacht Britannia

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A Sombre Farewell

On 23 June 1994, John Major's Government announced there would be no refit for HMY Britannia as the costs would be too great. After a long and successful career spanning 44 years and travelling over 1 million miles around the globe, it was announced that the last Royal Yacht was to be decommissioned.

There was no immediate decision about a replacement, but the question of a new Royal Yacht became a political issue in the run up to the 1997 General Election. After the election, the new Labour Government eventually confirmed in October 1997 there would be no replacement for Britannia . 

Royal Yacht Britannia Tower Bridge

Final Voyage

On 20 October 1997, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth on her farewell tour around the UK. This was a clockwise circumnavigation of Britain, calling at six major ports, including Glasgow. As she sailed past John Brown's Shipyard, she gave a blast on her sirens, in fond farewell to the yard which had proudly built her.

Royal Family RYB

Day of Decommissioning

It was a sad day when the Royal Family finally bid farewell to a ship that had so faithfully served her family and her country for over forty years. All the clocks on Britannia were stopped at 15:01, the time Queen Elizabeth II was piped ashore for the last time. This was one of the few occasions Queen Elizabeth II publicly shed a tear as The Band of HM Royal Marines played the highly emotive 'Highland Cathedral.'

Visiting Britannia

TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK ATTRACTION 2023 - 2024

britannia yacht refit 1991

PLEASE PRE-BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO GUARANTEE ADMISSION 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. 

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

Step aboard to enjoy a great day out!

Fingal Hotel

Get away from the everyday aboard Britannia’s sister ship, Fingal.  Extend your visit with a stay in one of Fingal’s luxurious cabins, your own oasis by the sea. 

TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK LUXURY HOTEL TRIPADVISOR'S NO.1 UK SMALL & BOUTIQUE HOTEL AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, AA five-star hotel and 2 AA Rosettes

britannia yacht refit 1991

Learn more: fingal.co.uk

IMAGES

  1. Royalty

    britannia yacht refit 1991

  2. Britannia refit

    britannia yacht refit 1991

  3. Britannia's Refit

    britannia yacht refit 1991

  4. Royal Yacht Britannia 1991. Kingston waterfront transporti…

    britannia yacht refit 1991

  5. The story behind the Royal Yacht Britannia

    britannia yacht refit 1991

  6. Royal Yacht Britannia in history

    britannia yacht refit 1991

VIDEO

  1. K1 Britannia

  2. Queen Mary 2 Refit: Remastered Britannia Staterooms

  3. Britannia refit

  4. Great British Royal Ships: Royal Yacht Britannia

  5. End Of An Era: Britannia, The Last Royal Ship

  6. The RESCUE AND REFIT Story of an 80ft former Whitbread Race Yacht (Ep. 1)