The Queen is to bid a fond farewell to a Queen who is as well travelled as herself.
It’s been announced by Cunard Line that Elizabeth II will make a final visit to
her sea-faring namesake ahead of the retirement of the QE2 following forty-one years of service.
Having
processed more than 5.6 million nautical miles and become a floating
home to more than 2.5 million passengers, the QEII will leave Cunard
service in November this year.
The Queen will make a tour of grand liner during a visit to Southampton on
2nd June – the 55th anniversary of the
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Announcing the impending meeting of the two queens, Cunard's President and
Managing Director, Carol Marlow, says: "We are delighted and honoured that
The Queen has chosen to visit QE2 to wish her farewell. Her Majesty has taken a
close interest in the ship over the last forty years, and I am certain this
will be a memorable occasion for all involved".
However, this will in fact be just the third visit that the Queen has made to her sea-faring
namesake since the liner was launched by Her Majesty at Clydebank on
20th September 1967.
The Queen toured the QE2 on 1st May 1969, immediately prior to the
liner’s maiden voyage.
It was to be more than two decades before the Queen stepped back onboard for
the July 1990 celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the
Cunard Line.
