Christening Ceremony
Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess was offi cially christened by T e Duchess of Cambridge in a ceremony held in June in Southampton. Gilly Pickup was there
I
t was a chill and blustery morning on T ursday 13th June, the day the 3,560 passenger Royal Princess offi cially became the fl agship of Princess Cruises’
fl eet. When we took our places in a temporary grandstand to see the spectacular Christening Ceremony, ponchos and pashminas were being handed out as protection against the elements.
It was unfortunate that there weren’t enough to go round, leaving many of the great and good to shiver in their fi nery. Prior to the arrival at Ocean Docks,
Southampton, of the ship’s godmother, HRH T e Duchess of Cambridge, there was entertainment by pop singer Natasha Bedingfi eld and West End singer Kerry Ellis. Percussive orchestra ‘Mass Ensemble’ performed with their ‘Earth Harp,’ an amazing instrument with strings, which extend 1,000 feet. T e Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth, and T e Pipe Band of 1st Battalion Irish Guards opened the event with all the traditional pomp and ceremony that has come to be recognised as part of this country’s ship-naming traditions. T e Duchess, who arrived on the quayside in a Black Range Rover, wore a black fascinator paired with a £169 Hobbs ‘Dalmatian Mac’ coatdress. I expect that the High Street store’s supplies quickly sold out. She sat on the improvised stage with a small group of dignitaries, who included Alan Buckelow,
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A Royal
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