Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia Now?

Last Updated on October 16, 2022

The Royal Yacht Britannia is now permanently moored at the Ocean Terminal in Leith, Edinburgh. The world-famous ship welcomes visitors from around the globe, offering them a unique insight into the life of Britain’s royal family. As well as being a tourist attraction, the Britannia is also used as a venue for corporate events and private functions.

Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Yacht Britannia – Full Tour of the Queens Private Yacht

The Royal Yacht Britannia is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is moored at Leith, and visitors can take tours of the ship and learn about its royal history. The yacht was decommissioned in 1997 after serving the British royal family for over 40 years.

What Happened to the Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after more than 40 years of service. The yacht is now a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Who Owns Royal Yacht Britannia

The question of who owns Royal Yacht Britannia is a bit of a complicated one. The short answer is that the British government owns the vessel, but it is managed by a private company on behalf of the Crown. The history of Britannia begins in 1953 when she was commissioned as a royal yacht for Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.

She served the royal family for over four decades, undertaking thousands of official visits and voyages around the world. In 1997, after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the decision was made to decommission Britannia and she was retired from service. In 2013, after extensive refurbishment, she opened to the public as a museum ship and attraction moored at Leith Docks in Edinburgh, Scotland.

While she is no longer owned by the royal family or used for official engagements, she remains an important part of British history and heritage.

How Big is the Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, after more than 50 years of service. She is now a tourist attraction and museum, permanently moored at Leith docks in Edinburgh. But just how big is this iconic vessel?

At 514 feet long, she is larger than a football pitch. Her beam (width) is just over 82 feet, and her draft (depth below the waterline) is 26 feet. She has four decks – the uppermost being reserved for the royal family when they were on board – and can accommodate up to 800 people.

There are also 165 rooms onboard, including the state apartments where Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip slept on their many voyages around the world. In her heyday, Britannia was powered by two diesel engines which could propel her at a top speed of 22 knots (24 miles per hour). She had a range of 10,000 nautical miles – enough to cross the Atlantic Ocean without refueling – and carried enough food and supplies onboard to last for three months!

Today, you can take a tour of this magnificent vessel and see what life was like on board for the royal family and their entourage. You can even enjoy afternoon tea in the former royal dining room!

Is Royal Yacht Britannia Worth Visiting

The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland. More than 300,000 people visit the yacht each year. The vessel was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a museum ship.

Visitors can explore the royal apartments, state rooms, and engine room. The royal yacht was used by the British royal family for over 40 years and played an important role in many state visits and official functions. The Queen Elizabeth II spent more time on board Britannia than any other royal yacht before her retirement from public service in 1997.

The Royal Yacht Britannia was launched on 16 April 1953 by HM Queen Elizabeth II at John Brown & Company Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. During her time as a working vessel, she undertook 1,000 official visits including taking part in a world tour with Prince Philip to celebrate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953 as well as hosting indulgent parties for celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe during their film shoots on location in Britain.

Tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia

The Royal Yacht Britannia is the former royal yacht of the British monarchy, now retired from service. She was launched by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and served as the royal family’s primary mode of transport for over 44 years. The vessel is currently moored at Leith Docks in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she operates as a tourist attraction and events venue.

Britannia was designed by naval architect William Reed and built at John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland. Her hull was constructed from steel plates that were riveted together; however, her superstructure (the part of the ship above the main deck) was made mostly from aluminium to save weight. The vessel displaced 11,000 tons (11,200 metric tons) and could accommodate 502 passengers and crew members.

Britannia was originally fitted with two sets of diesel engines; however, these were later replaced with four gas turbines that gave her a top speed of 34 knots (63 km/h). The yacht was also equipped with 22 luxurious staterooms for the royal family and their guests, as well as a hospital and a chapel. One of her most distinctive features is an indoor swimming pool that could be converted into a dance floor.

During her time in service, Britannia transported the royal family on 968 official visits to 135 countries around the world. She also played host to numerous dignitaries and celebrities, including Nelson Mandela, Sir Winston Churchill, and The Beatles. The yacht’s last official royal engagement took place in 1997; she was decommissioned later that year after sailing more than 1 million nautical miles (1.9 million km).

In October 1997, Britannia sailed upriver to London for the last time to take part in the Golden Jubilee River Pageant celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 50 years on the throne. Following this event, she returned to Edinburgh where she remains today.

Who Now Owns Royal Yacht Britannia?

The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 and is now a five-star visitor attraction and events venue permanently moored in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the 83rd royal yacht since Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660. During her 43-year career, she conveyed The Queen, other members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries on 696 foreign visits and 272 visits in British waters.

Now owned by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, she is open to visitors 365 days a year and makes a significant contribution to Scottish tourism.

Why was the Royal Yacht Britannia Decommissioned?

The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in 1997 after more than 40 years of service. The decision to decommission the vessel was made by the British government as part of their cost-cutting measures. The yacht had become increasingly expensive to maintain and operate, and with the advent of newer, more modern vessels, it was decided that Britannia was no longer needed.

Does the British Royal Family Still Have a Yacht?

The British royal family has owned a number of yachts over the years. The most recent and famous yacht is the Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997. There have been rumors that the royal family has considered buying a new yacht, but as of now, they do not own one.

Does Queen Elizabeth Have a Yacht?

No, Queen Elizabeth does not have a yacht. The royal family does have a number of boats and ships at their disposal, but they are all owned by the government and not by the royal family themselves. The Queen does occasionally use boats for leisurely outings, but she does not own any herself.

Conclusion

The Royal Yacht Britannia is now docked in Edinburgh, Scotland. Visitors can tour the yacht and learn about its royal history. The Britannia was used by the British royal family for over 50 years and has since been converted into a museum.