Royal Yacht Britannia

This magnificent ship has played host to some of the most famous people in the world. But, above all, she was home to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family. Now you are welcome on board to discover the heart and soul of this most special of royal residences. The Royal Yacht Britannia now moored at Ocean Terminal at Leith is a five star visitor attraction, steeped in history and filled with artefacts from The Royal Collection – and with a superb souvenir shop.

HMY Britannia was built at the shipyard of John Brown & Co. Ltd in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, being launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 16th April 1953 and commissioned on 11 January 1954. During her career as Royal Yacht (she was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war, though this facility was never used), she conveyed the Queen, other members of the Royal Family, and various dignitaries on 696 foreign visits and 272 visits in British waters. Prince Charles and Princess Diana took a honeymoon cruise aboard Britannia in 1981. She also evacuated over 1,000 refugees from the civil war in Aden in 1986. In addition, the ship was intended to serve as a mobile refuge for the British Royal Family in the event of nuclear warfare with the Soviet Union. Guests included United States General Norman Schwarzkopf, who commented when he saw the engines:

"Well, I've now seen the museum pieces.