Royal Yacht Britannia - 60th Anniversary

USPA NEWS - Britannia will celebrate a very special 60th anniversary in 2013. On 16 April, 1953, Britannia was launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank - Scotland, the start of long and illustrious career. Britannia has very special plans throughout the year to mark this occasion.

Britannia was launched on the 16 April 1953 at John Brown´s shipyard in Clydebank. For over forty years she proudly served the Royal Family, sailing over one million miles to become the most famous ship in the world and playing a role in some defining moments in recent history. Britannia undertook 968 official visits, including the handover of Hong Kong. Four Royal honeymoons took place on board, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana´s. In 1996, Britannia rescued over 1,000 refugees from war torn Aden in the republic of Yemen. Britannia was decommissioned on 11 December 1997 in Portsmouth, the last in a long line of Royal Yachts stretching back to 1660.

The Royal Yacht Britannia is an award - winning five star visitor attraction and exclusive hospitality venue, permanently berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, Just 2 miles from the city centre. Around 250,000 people visit Britannia every year. The Yacht is owned by a non-profit making charity, which receives no public sector funding. All revenue generated goes towards Britannia´s long-term maintenance and preservation. In 2012 VisitScotland, the Scottish tourist board, awarded The Royal Yacht Britannia the highest ever grading for a visitor attraction, rated 'Five Star' (Exceptional, World Class). Berthed alongside Ocean Terminal , the waterfront shopping centre, designed by Sir Terence Conran, which has over 70 shops, bars, restaurants & cinema.