The Queen's bedroom is smaller than you
expect, nevertheless it is a charming and restful room with a delightful floral
embroidered silk panel on the wall above the bed, matching floral curtains and
armchair.
Prince Philip’s bedroom adjoins the
Queen’s. As is to be expected, it is a very much more masculine room with dark
furniture, and crimson bedcover. I could picture them in their respective beds
with the connecting door open and having a conversation over morning cups of
tea.
Afternoon tea was usually taken in the Sun
Lounge overlooking the Verandah Deck. Here there are chairs, a sofa and lots of
small tables where the family relaxed with their tea, cucumber sandwiches and
cream cakes. This deck was the play area.
A collapsible swimming pool was available for the children, Prince
Philip painted at his easel, and games of quoits or deck hockey were
enjoyed. When in port for ceremonial
occasions and, when the weather was fine, State receptions were also held here.
The two most used rooms are the State
Dining Room and the State Drawing Room. The State Dining Room is where people
such as Sir Winston Churchill, Mrs. Thatcher, Presidents Reagan, Clinton and
Yeltsin were wined and dined. And on Sundays the room was used for church
services. It could also be converted
into a cinema with a drop-down screen and, in 1971, when Princess Anne
celebrated her 21st birthday, the carpets were rolled back for
dancing.
The State Drawing Room is large and
comfortable with chintz covered sofas and armchairs, small tables of various
shapes and sizes and two gorgeous Persian rugs. In one corner is a baby grand
piano – fastened to the floor by bolts so that it didn’t slide across the floor
during bad weather. As well as various members of the Royal Family who have
played the piano – Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra – another
well-known name to tinkle those ivories was Sir Noel Coward. He was once
invited aboard to dine with Princess Margaret when she was on a Caribbean
cruise.
It is only from the very top of the yacht
do you get an idea of the size of the vessel from the prow to the stern. The
Bridge is on the next deck down, in front of which is the Royal Bridge, where
the Queen and Prince Philip often stood as the yacht sailed into port.
One fascinating corner is the Garage. When
Britannia was first in use it was necessary to take one of the vehicles –
either the Rolls-Royce Phantom V or the Royal Land Rover (whichever was
appropriate to the destination) – because some countries didn’t then have
appropriate transportation available. In later years when suitable transport was
available and it was no longer necessary to take a car, the garage was used as
a beer store.
Near to the yacht there is the Royal Barge.
Instead of hanging on the side of the ship with the lifeboats this is now in a
little ‘home’ of its own so that visitors can see all around it, admire the
workmanship and see up close the delightful dolphin-fish which decorate it. The
Royal Barge was called into use when Britannia had to anchor off shore. The
air-conditioned cabin has windows all around it so that the Royal party could
be clearly seen as the barge neared the shore.
The tour of Britannia can take as long as
you like because you have a recorded commentary with you. Although you don’t
have the privilege of entering the yacht along the red carpet and up the
official gangplank, you do get to tread where the Royal Family, other Royalty,
members of State and innumerable famous people have walked.
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| Welcome Aboard! |
Web site: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
