THE ADMIRAL
A Right Royal
Occasion ENTER, QUEEN ELIZABETH
Our maritime insider offers his view of the stately naming of the wonderful new Cunarder
T
President and Managing Director of Cunard Line, escorted his royal guest through the Queens Room to the navigation bridge. It was here Captain Chris Wells, Master of the new Cunarder, invited Her Majesty
aking his grandstand seat adjacent to the new Ocean Terminal in Southampton one sunny day last October for the christening of the
latest Cunarder, the Admiral rubbed shoul- ders with pillars of the cruise industry, a spattering of celebrities and the occasional Knight of the Realm. The occasion marked the culmination of more than two years’ planning and building to create the second largest ship in Cunard’s 170-year history. As invited guests filled the purpose-built stadium, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of Anthony Inglis entertained us with a spirited repertoire of theme songs and choral works. On two giant screens, we watched Her Majesty The Queen as Peter Shanks,
12 WORLD OF CRUISING I Winter 2010 / 2011
to sound the ship’s whistle. The immediacy of the response from the horn, high up on the funnel, took everyone by surprise and a wave of giggles spread like a Mexican wave amongst the chattering crowds. In the shadow of the Cunarder’s mighty hull, the Massed Bands of the Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards entered the arena to add to the prestigious pageant. They paraded in front of the ersatz Hollywood Bowl auditorium as the musicians and choristers performed Handel’s rousing anthem, Zadok The Priest. On the giant screens, images of the two former ships to bear the name Elizabeth were shown – much to the enjoyment of this old salt, for whom much of the contempora- neous newsreel of RMS Queen Elizabeth was a revelation.
To the Admiral’s indignation, a master of ceremonies addressed the guests to advise the correct protocol when in the presence of Royalty. Surely, this was one audience where Philistines and bigots would have no place! Without any need for prompting, the assembled throng stood to attention as a fanfare from the Trumpeters of the Irish Guards heralded Her Majesty’s arrival in the burgundy royal Bentley. The Royal Standard flying from the ship’s mast fluttered proudly in the wind.
H
er Majesty had graciously consented to leave Balmoral and fly to Southampton to give her name to the latest ship to bear her name. Resplendent in an azure-blue hat and matching coat, The Queen ascended the royal dais, escorted by Micky Arison, Chairman & CEO of the Carnival Corporation as well as Captain Wells. The audience sang the National Anthem as the sun beat down and the autumn breeze lifted fascinators and challenged hatpins. The naming ceremony com- menced with an arrangement of Jerusalem. After the orchestra, choir and soloist came to a rousing crescendo, Shanks gave his welcome speech. He managed to raise an obvious chuckle from Her Majesty when
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