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The Royal Yacht Britannia

Experience Tripadvisor's Best UK Attraction 2023. Follow in the footsteps of Royalty and explore this floating Royal residence with a fascinating audio tour of five decks (available in over 30 languages).

Tripadvisor's Best UK Visitor Attraction (AGAIN) 2023-2024, Best UK Attraction (Which magazine readers) and Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award winner 

Visit this award-winning attraction, just two miles from Edinburgh's city centre at Ocean Terminal.  The Royal Yacht Britannia played host to some of the world’s most famous people, from Nelson Mendela to Winston Churchill, but above all was home for the British Royal Family for over 40 years. Now you can discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences.

You'll receive a truly warm welcome at Britannia's Visitor Centre before you board this famous ship where you will discover the history of Royal Yachts and view displays and historical photographs of Britannia's fascinating past before boarding Queen Elizabeth II's former floating palace.

What will you see?

• Tour Britannia’s five decks
• Feel like the captain of the ship in the Bridge
• Follow in the footsteps of Royalty through the State Apartments
• See Queen Elizabeth II's favourite room- the Sun Lounge
• Discover below decks in the Crew’s Quarters
• Admire a tour highlight, the gleaming Engine Room
• Take in the Royal Sailing Exhibition
• Enjoy soups, sandwiches, cakes and scones in the Royal Deck Tearoom and admire the stunning waterfront views.

The tour is available in:

• Audio handset tour, available in over 30 languages
• Children’s audio tour
• Audio tour for those with sight loss
• ASL and BSL tablet
• Braille script ​​​​​​ ​​​​​

Complete the Britannia experience with a visit to the  Gift Shop in Ocean Terminal, where you’ll find exclusive Britannia souvenirs, china, toys, gifts and nautical items.

Berthed just moments away, Britannia's sister ship, floating hotel Fingal, offers 22 luxurious cabins inspired by the former Northern Lighthouse Board tender's rich maritime heritage. For further information, visit Fingal's website .

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

-  All weather experience -  Highly accessible for wheelchair users, single buggies and those with limited mobility. Read our accessibility statement here . -  Free Annual Pass for 12 months admission included -  The entrance to Britannia is temporarily on the Ground Floor of Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

How to get here?

By tram: Take the tram to stop 'Ocean Terminal' (Newhaven direction).

By bus:  Regal Tour Bus and Lothian Buses 10, 16, 34 and 35 run from the city centre towards Ocean Terminal. Regal Tour buses depart regularly from Waterloo Place / St Andrew Square in the centre of Edinburgh. The Majestic Tour is operated by Edinburgh Bus Tours .

By train:  Arrive in the city centre at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, just 2 miles from Britannia. 

By car: Follow signs to Edinburgh and Leith or North Edinburgh. Then follow brown tourist signs for Britannia. Free car parking at Ocean Terminal (level C is nearest). For satnav our postcode is EH6 6JJ. Go inside the shopping centre for Britannia’s entrance and the start of the tour. By plane: Britannia is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh Airport.

For further information on finding Britannia, please see here .  

OPENING TIMES

Please check the Britannia website for full opening times and prices. EVENING EVENTS Exclusive dinners and receptions can be hosted on board. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 and see how we can create your event of a lifetime, or visit the events section of our website .

PRIVATE TOURS A private tour on board The Royal Yacht Britannia is an exclusive experience, giving you access to Britannia’s five decks, and a unique insight into the history of the Royal Yacht and how the Royal Family and crew lived and worked on board. Both Morning and Evening tours are available. Call our events team on +44 (0) 131 555 8800 or for more information visit click here . PRESERVING BRITANNIA Britannia is cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust , a self-funding charity registered in Scotland (SC028070). By visiting Britannia you will be helping us to preserve this important piece of history for future generations.

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk See our reviews on Tripadvisor Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Instagram

View our videos on YouTube

Transport and Parking

• On Public Transport Route
• Public Parking Nearby

Accessibility

• Hearing Loop
• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Lift or stairlift
• Large print, braille or audio
• Level Access
• Wheelchair access throughout
• Accessible toilets
• Wheelchairs or mobility aids provided
• Suitable for visitors with limited mobility

Dietary Options

• Gluten Free

Typical Prices

• Baby Changing Facilities
• Public Toilet Facilities
• Lunch Available
• Licensed Bar
• Cafe or Restaurant

Payment Methods

• American Express
• Diners Card
• Credit Card
• Coastal Location
• Sea/Loch View

Awards & Schemes

Related items of interest

• Sailing on Royal Racing Yacht Bloodhound

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The Royal Yacht Britannia Has a Fascinating History—Here's Everything You Should Know

It doesn't get more majestic than Queen Elizabeth II's yacht.

“Britannia is special for a number of reasons,” Prince Phillip once said. “Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace or just a house. The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia. As such she is a splendid example of contemporary British design and technology.”

Although she retired from service in 1997, today the Britannia, one of many of the world's grandest yachts , is docked in Edinburgh, where she is open as a visitors’ attraction and host of private events. Below we give you all the Royal Yacht Britannia facts you might want to know, from who owns the yacht now to why she was decommissioned to how fast she is to how to get tickets to visit. Britannia was, after all, the one place the queen said she could “truly relax,” so why not see why for yourself?

Royal Yacht Britania Facts and History

On February 4, 1952, John Brown & Co shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, received the order from the Admiralty to build a new Royal Yacht to travel the globe and double as a hospital ship in times of war, according to the royal yacht's website . King George VI passed away two days after, sadly, and so on April 16, 1953, the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II announced the yacht’s new name as the ship was revealed.

"I name this ship Britannia,” she said. “I wish success to her and all who sail in her." Britannia was commissioned into the Royal Navy in January 1954 and by April of that year sailed into her first overseas port: Grand Harbour, Malta.

The queen and The Duke of Edinburgh worked with interior designer Sir Hugh Casson for the ship to serve as both a functional Royal Navy vessel and an elegant royal residence. Queen Elizabeth II selected deep blue for Britannia’s hull, instead of the more traditional black. Its Naval crew included 220 Yachtsmen, 20 officers, and three season officers—plus a Royal Marines Band of 26 men during Royal Tours.

All of them might have had to change uniform up to six times a day, so the laundry service on board worked nonstop. The yacht also engaged in British overseas trade missions known as Sea Days and made an estimated £3 billion for the Exchequer between 1991 and 1995 alone.

The ship’s wheel was taken from King Edward VII’s racing yacht, also named Britannia, according to Boat International , and the 126-meter ship could reach speeds of 22.75 knots, or a seagoing cruising speed of 21 knots, according to Super Yacht Times . Other fun facts: The yacht could produce her own fresh water from sea water, and shouting was forbidden aboard to preserve tranquility, favoring hand signals for Naval orders instead.

Over the next 44 years, the Britannia would sail the equivalent of once around the world for each year, in total visiting 600 ports in 135 countries. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones were the first of four couples to honeymoon on the ship in 1960, gifting them all privacy to sail to secluded locations. Prince Charles and Princess Diana followed in 1981 on the Mediterranean as well as Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips before them in 1973 in the Caribbean and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in 1986 in the Azores.

For family vacations aboard the ship, games, treasure hunts, plays, and picnics were organized, and on warm days the children could play in an inflatable paddling pool on the Verandah Deck.

In the Sun Lounge, the queen especially enjoyed taking breakfast and afternoon tea with views through large picture windows, a space you can see replicated in the TV show The Crown. Although no filming took place on board the Britannia for the show, researchers ensured scenes aboard it were accurate. In the queen’s bedroom, the resemblance is seen down to the decorative wall light fittings and embroidered silk panel above her bed that had been specially commissioned.

In 1997, the ship was decommissioned after the government decided the costs to refit it would be too great. On its final day in her service that followed a farewell tour around the U.K., the queen openly wept as the Band of HM Royal Marines played "Highland Cathedral."

"Looking back over 44 years we can all reflect with pride and gratitude upon this great ship which has served the country, the Royal Navy and my family with such distinction," Queen Elizabeth II said. All clocks on the ship stopped at 15:01, the exact time the Queen disembarked from the yacht for the final time, and they would remain at that time until the present.

How to Tour the Royal Yacht Britania

Today the yacht is owned by Royal Yacht Britannia Trus t, and all revenue it generates goes to the yacht’s maintenance and preservation. Ticketed entry allows you to step into state rooms like the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room and State Drawing Room, in addition to the working side of the ship in the Crew’s Quarters, Laundry and gleaming Engine Room. Along the way you will see original artifacts from the shop—95 percent of which is on loan from The Royal Collection.

How to Visit the Royal Britania

You can visit the Britannia any day of the year on Edinburgh’s waterfront. Hours vary by season, and you can find them listed and purchase tickets on the yacht’s website . Private tours are also available, and you can visit the Royal Deck Tearoom, where the Royal Family hosted cocktail parties and receptions, for drinks, meals and scones. Additionally, the Britannia hosts special ticketed events for New Year’s and other occasions, and event spaces can be booked as well.

While you are in Edinburgh, you can also stay on the Fingal , a neighboring yacht-turned-floating-hotel, which is a seven-minute walk from the Britannia, and dine at its Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, which serves breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, and cocktails.

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Mike Lynch confirmed dead after yacht sank off Sicily coast during storm

Tech tycoon, 59, was among six people missing since early hours of Monday morning when Bayesian yacht capsized

The British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch has been confirmed dead by search and rescue authorities after his yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm, according to officials.

Lynch, 59, the founder of Autonomy Corporation , was among six people missing after the British-flagged 56-metre sailing boat Bayesian capsized at about 5am local time on Monday off the coast of Palermo when the area was hit by a tornado.

Lynch’s body was retrieved from the wreck on Thursday, Massimo Mariani, an interior ministry official, told Reuters after being briefed by the emergency services. Agence France-Presse also reported that Lynch’s body had been recovered, citing a coastguard official.

His wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued on Monday, while his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, is still unaccounted for. Mariani said her body may be inside the wreck or she could have been tossed into the sea as the boat sank.

A spokesperson for the Italian fire brigade said it could take days before the last missing person was found, given the difficulties facing the divers on a wreck 50m (165ft) below the surface.

The bodies of four people were recovered from the wreck on Wednesday. The body of the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday, shortly after the vessel sank.

Lynch, once described as Britain’s Bill Gates, spent much of the last decade in court defending his name against allegations of fraud related to the sale of Autonomy to the US tech company Hewlett-Packard for $11bn (£7bn).

He was acquitted by a jury in San Francisco in June after he had spent more than a year living in effect under house arrest. The boat trip was a celebration of being cleared of the charges.

Lord Browne, the chair of the Francis Crick Institute, was among the first to pay tribute to Lynch. In a post on X , he wrote: “Mike Lynch should be remembered as the person who catalysed a breed of deep tech entrepreneurs in the UK.

“His ideas and his personal vision were a powerful contribution to science and technology in both Britain and globally. I send my condolences to those close to him. We have lost a human being of great ability.”

Lynch was a member of the Create the Change fundraising board, set up by Cancer Research UK and which helped fund the building of the institute.

He was also a director of the BBC for five years.

David Tabizel, Lynch’s co-founder at Autonomy, posted on X : “It looks like we’ve lost our dear Dr Mike Lynch. RIP. The world has lost a genius. His family have lost a giant of a man.” Speaking to BBC News, he described Lynch as a “human supercomputer”.

The Royal Academy of Engineering, where Lynch was a fellow, said in a statement that it was deeply saddened by his death: “Mike became a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2008 and we have fond memories of the active role he played in the past, as a mentor, donor and former council member. He was also one of the inaugural members on the enterprise committee. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Tim Davie, BBC director general, paid tribute to Lynch on Thursday. He said: “We are deeply saddened by the awful news about the deaths of those aboard the Bayesian yacht. Mike Lynch was an outstanding BBC director, who made a major contribution during his time on the board, from 2007 to 2012.

“Wise, generous and insightful, he played a particularly key role in accelerating our transformation as a digital organisation. Our thoughts are with his family and all others involved.”

Earlier on Thursday, a senior official confirmed to the Guardian that divers had recovered a fifth body from the wreck. The head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, said the body had been successfully recovered and transported to Porticello’s pier.

Italian media, quoting sources among the divers, said the victims retrieved on Wednesday were Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, as well as the executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife, Judy. The Bloomers’ family described them as “incredible people and an inspiration to many”.

Questions remain about why the yacht sank within minutes. The head of the company that built the boat yesterday hit back at suggestions that the length of its mast was a risk factor.

Giovanni Costantino, head of the Italian Sea Group, which includes the Perini Navi company, insisted the boat was safe. He said a series of human errors had contributed to the tragedy. In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Costantino cited hatches being left open and the keel not being fully lowered.

The bodies recovered on Wednesday were taken to hospitals in the nearby city of Palermo. They have not been officially identified.

There were 22 people onboard when the yacht sank. Fifteen survived, including a one-year-old girl.

• Hewlett-Packard

More on this story

Mike Lynch yacht: body of British tech entrepreneur retrieved by Italian coastguard, reports say – as it happened

Italian investigators trying to establish why Bayesian superyacht sank so quickly

Sicily yacht wreck divers find bodies of five missing people

Mike Lynch was getting ready to ‘start again’, says former UK cabinet minister

Sicily yacht sinking: how do waterspouts form and what risk do they pose?

Climate crisis fuelled storm that sank yacht in Sicily, say experts

Sicily yacht sinking: Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer among missing

Bayesian yacht sinking: six presumed dead as divers try to access cabins

Mike Lynch’s co-defendant in US fraud trial ‘fatally struck’ by car while jogging

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Royal Yacht Britannia – tickets, prices, discounts, afternoon tea, what to see

Royal Yacht Britannia used to be Queen Elizabeth’s Palace on Water and is now Scotland’s most popular tourist attraction. 

Known by many names such as Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia, Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht ,  HMY Britannia, etc., this Yacht was in the Queen’s service for 44 years and sailed more than a million miles worldwide. 

It is a perfect opportunity to see how the British Queen lived when traveling with other Kings and Queens, World leaders, and celebrities. 

This article shares everything you must know before booking your tickets for the Royal Yacht Britannia tour.

Top Royal Yacht Britannia Tickets

# Royal Yacht Britannia tickets # Royal Edinburgh ticket

Table of contents

What to expect at yacht britannia.

Here is a quick video on what visitors can expect inside Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia.

Your Royal Britannia tour starts from the Visitor Centre, on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, where you get the historical background about the Royal Family and Yachtsmen.

You then pick up the audio guide, which is part of the entry ticket, and board Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht and explore five fascinating decks.

Highlights on the Yacht’s Royal side are the Sun Lounge, the State Dining Room, and The Queen’s Bedroom.

On the ship’s operational side, you get to see the Crew’s Quarters, the Engine Room, the laundry, etc.

More than 95% of the exhibits you will see during your tour are original and are taken on loan from The Royal Collection.

If you prefer, you can also visit the Royal Deck Tea Room.

Back to Top

Royal Yacht Britannia tickets

This entry ticket gets you complete access to the Royal ship that’s now berthed in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith.

Visitors can explore all five decks at a leisurely pace even as they take in the public and private lives of the British Royal Family.

This ticket also includes the complimentary audio guide. 

Royal Yacht Britannia prices

Adult ticket (18+ years): 18.50 pounds Child ticket (5 to 17 years): 9.25 Pounds  Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children): 50 Pounds Infant ticket (under 5 years): Free entry

Royal Edinburgh ticket

This combo is known as the 48-hour Royal Edinburgh Ticket and is a real money saver. 

If you are visiting Edinburgh for the first time, we highly recommend this Royal attractions combo. 

This ticket gets you to access three of the best attractions in the city:

• Royal Yacht Britannia
• Edinburgh Castle
• Palace of Holyroodhouse

And to top it all, you also get unlimited travel for 48 hours on three of Edinburgh’s hop-on-hop-off bus tours. 

Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia

Address:  Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, United Kingdom. Get Directions

The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, just 2 miles from the City Centre.

Britannia’s Visitor Centre is on the second floor of Ocean Terminal, just 15 minutes’ drive from Edinburgh City Centre.

Ocean Terminal is soon going to be  re-branded  as Porta. 

There are many ways to get to the Royal Yacht. 

If you are coming by train, you must get down at  Edinburgh Waverley .

From outside the station, you can take a taxi to cover the 3.7 kms (2.3 miles) to Ocean Terminal. 

From the Waverly station, you can also take bus No. 22 and 34.

You must board the buses at  Princess Street (Stop PN) , and after 24 minutes and 27 stops, get down at  Ocean Terminal (Stop OF) .

There is a bus from the Station, every 15 minutes.

Lothian Bus services  run three buses – Bus No. 11, 22, and 35 – from Edinburgh City Centre to Ocean Terminal. 

You can purchase tickets on the bus by presenting the correct change or from the  Lothian Buses app .

A single journey on a Lothian Bus costs 1.70 Pounds. 

If you use Satnav, use the postcode EH6 6JJ. 

Else, open Google Maps to get  directions to Ocean Terminal .

If you prefer a taxi, we recommend  Uber ,  Central Taxis , or  City Cabs .

Car Parking

Royal Yacht Britannia offers free parking at Ocean Terminal.

Blue Car Park on Level E is closest to the tourist attraction’s Visitor Centre. 

This part of the Park also has spaces for Blue Badge holders. 

Royal Yacht Britannia entrance

If you reach by foot, taxi, or bus, access to Royal Britannia is from the Ocean Terminal Shopping Center’s main entrance on the ground floor. 

You must take a lift to the 2nd floor of Ocean Terminal and walk towards the building’s East end.

You will first spot Debenhams and then HMY Britannia’s Visitor Center entrance.  Even though you can book tickets at the venue (the ticket desk is to the left of the visitor center entrance), it is better to  buy them online , much in advance, to avoid last-minute disappointment. 

Royal Yacht Britannia opening times

During the peak months of April to October, Royal Yacht Britannia opens at 9.30 am, and the last entry is at 4.30 pm. 

The rest of the year, the Royal Yacht opens at 10 am, and the last entry is allowed till 3.30 pm. 

The last admission on 24 December is at 2.30 pm, and on 31 December it is at 3 pm. 

Royal Yacht Britannia is closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Royal Yacht Britannia tour

The Royal Yacht Britannia   tours are a perfect way to feel like a celebrity for a few hours. 

In this section, we share a few things you must know before you book your tour of the Royal ship. 

Are the Britannia tours timed?

No, tours of HMY Britannia don’t start at a stipulated time. 

When you book your tickets, you only select the ‘date.’ 

On the day of your visit, reach the Royal ship between their opening hours to start exploring.

Are the Royal Britannia tours guided?

Her Majesty’s Yacht doesn’t offer guided tours. 

However, every ticket comes with an audio guide to walk around and tour the ship yourself.

Kids get their own version of the audio guide. 

How long does a tour of Britannia Yacht take?

You need at least two hours to explore Royal Yacht Britannia to satisfaction. 

However, if you plan to visit the Royal Deck Tea Room, you must factor in another 30 to 60 minutes. 

Visits during July and August tend to take longer because of the crowd. 

Royal Britannia discounts

Kids up to four years get the maximum discounts at Britannia, Edinburgh – they get in for free. 

On the adult ticket price of 17 Pounds, children aged 5 to 17 years get almost 50% discount and pay only 8.75 Pounds.

Seniors who are 60+ and students with valid educational ID cards get a 2 Pound reduction on the full ticket.

People in the Armed Forces (with valid ID) can also claim the reduced price of 8.75 Pounds. 

However, this Armed Forces discount is available only at the Britannia ticket office.

Royal Yacht Britannia audio guide

Every Britannia Yacht entry ticket comes with a complimentary audio guide.

While receiving the audio guides at the Handset Desk, you can ask for straps to wear the audio guides around the neck. Headphones are also available.

Kids can opt for the children’s version of the audio guide.

The audio tour is available in 30 languages; English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Russian, Czech, Polish, Hungarian, Korean, Japanese, Urdu, Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Thai, Turkish, Cantonese, Punjabi, Portuguese-Brazilian, Welsh, Romanian and Gaelic. 

Besides the audio guide, visitor guides are also available through the tour route to help if you have questions.

Royal Yacht Britannia afternoon tea

The Royal Deck Tea Room is on board Britannia and tables are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

It is a perfect restaurant to enjoy freshly prepared food and stunning views of the harbor. 

The menu includes specialty coffees, cocktails, tasty soups, sandwiches, cakes, scones, etc.  Download Menu

The Royal Deck Tea Room has 35 tables and can seat 133 people.

Royal Deck tea room timings

During the peak months of April to October, the Royal Deck Team Room opens at 11 am, and the last admission is at 3.30 pm. 

January to March: Opens at 11 am, last admission at 3.30 pm

November to December: Opens at 10.30 pm, last admission at 3.45 pm

Royal Yacht Britannia interiors

Many tourists wonder what’s inside the Royal Yacht before they book their tickets. 

Some out of curiosity and some to know if a visit to Royal Yacht Britannia is worth it. 

We list below some of the highlights of this Palace on water. 

State Apartments

The State Apartments are the collection of rooms where the Royals lived or entertained their guests. 

1. The State Drawing Room

The Royal family relaxed in the State Drawing Room whenever they traveled together. 

It also acted as a reception room for up to 250 guests. 

2. The Verandah Deck

The Verandah Deck was a private space for the Royals, where they could sunbathe or enjoy quoits or deck hockey. 

This area of the ship also had a collapsible swimming pool for the Royal Family to splash around if they wanted.

3. The Sun Lounge

The Sun Lounge was one of the Queen’s favorite rooms onboard HMY Brittania. 

The beautiful teak-lined room was a designated family room and offered a lot of privacy from the rest of the ship.

4. The State Dining Room

This massive dining room onboard Britannia has played host to the world’s most influential people, such as Nelson Mandela, Sir Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, etc. 

With its white paneled walls adorned with gifts received during State visits, this room represents ultimate luxury. 

The Engine Room

The Engine Room is a testament to British marine engineering skills because, until the ship got decommissioned in 1997, everything was working fine. 

This room is full of gleaming brass, chrome, and white enamel with the ‘heavy stuff’ under the hood pumping 12,000 horsepower, which would help Britannia and her four-bladed propellers to a maximum of 22.5 knots.  

Eight men operated the Engine Room, Boiler Room, and associated machinery rooms.

The Laundry

The 240 Officers and Yachtsmen on board Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia sometimes had to change their uniforms up to six times a day. 

This is why it was the only ship in the Royal Navy to have a laundry service permanently on board. 

The laundry machines, dryers, and steam presses on the ship worked non-stop, and sometimes the temperature even went up to 48 degrees Celcius (118 degrees Fahrenheit)

Admiral’s Cabin

The Admiral was responsible for Royal Yacht Britannia’s safe functioning and commanded the 19 officers and 220 Yachtsmen who operated the ship.

He worked, entertained, and often ate (he couldn’t join the other officers in their mess unless invited) in the Admiral’s Cabin. Image: Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk  

The Bridge was HMY Britannia’s center of command and control on all her journeys. 

From here, the officers reporting into the Admiral navigated, passed orders, recorded the logbooks, etc.

Back then, all Royal Navy ships had a Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute shop, known as the NAAFI. 

The crew members and the officers would shop for their daily needs, such as toothpaste, shaving creams, magazines, etc. in this shop. 

Sources # Royalyachtbritannia.co.uk # Architecturaldigest.com # Wikipedia.org # Tripadvisor.com The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy .

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This article was researched & written by

Jamshed V Rajan

He is a two-faced traveler, who enjoys both the hustle-bustle of an urban holiday and the serenity of a break from the rest of the World. During some of his vacations, he is a resort hopper, and on others, he barely spends time in his hotel. He loves to try mouth-watering local cuisines, especially non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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Photos show what it's like onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, the queen's 'floating palace' that she took on lavish vacations

• The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997.
• It's five stories tall, had more than 240 staff, and was known as the queen's "floating palace."
• Britannia is now anchored in Leith, Scotland, and reopens as a tourist attraction on May 12.

For 44 years, the Royal Yacht Britannia carried the queen and members of the royal family around the world.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia

Built in 1953, it logged more than 1 million miles and became known as the queen's "floating palace."

The five-story ship was part royal residence and part Royal Navy ship, with a full-time staff of more than 240 royal yachtsmen and officers.

The queen traveled on the ship for tours abroad, during which she would meet with dignitaries both on land and onboard.

She also used it for vacations like the royal family's annual summer cruise to the Western Isles of Scotland.

The queen once said that "Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax."

Four royal couples used the ship for their honeymoons, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.

In 1997, the Labour government decommissioned the ship, citing costs as a primary reason. The Britannia cost about £11 million to run each year, Reuters reported.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , Reuters

While the queen has yet to build a new yacht, that wasn't the end of the Royal Yacht Britannia.

One year later, it opened as a public museum in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The ship is set to reopen on May 12, almost six months after it closed in November due to the pandemic.

Source: Royal Yacht Britannia , BBC

Visitors will be able to step into spaces like the teak-lined sun lounge, the queen's favorite room, where she took her breakfast and afternoon tea.

The queen's bedroom, featuring a vanity table, writing desk, and twin bed, is also on display. The queen and Prince Philip slept separately while onboard the Britannia.

The largest room on the ship is the state dining room, where the queen entertained dignitaries like Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher. The room could fit 56 guests.

Nearby is the state drawing room, which served as a place for the royal family to relax as well as a reception area for guests.

Toward the front of the ship are rooms where the staff lived and operated, like the 24-hour laundry room. Here, yachtsmen and officers would change outfits up to six times per day.

The former royal yachtsmen, known as "yotties," now reunite annually to help maintain the ship.

The clocks on the Royal Yacht Britannia don't get touched. They are permanently stopped at 3:01 p.m., the time when the queen stepped off the ship for the last time.

Prince Philip once said that the ship occupies a unique place in royal history. "Almost every previous sovereign has been responsible for building a church, a castle, a palace, or just a house," he said, according to the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust. "The only comparable structure in the present reign is Britannia."

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• Main content

The Story Behind the Royal Family's Yacht, Britannia

The ship hosted four royal honeymoons in its 44 years of service.

Often referred to as the last royal yacht, the Britannia was decommissioned in 1997, and despite some efforts , there are no signs of a new one in the near future. Though its seafaring days may be behind it (the ship now serves as a tourist attraction in Edinburgh, Scotland), the Britannia remains an important artifact and a peek behind the curtain of royal life—it even garnered a prominent place in the fifth season of The Crown . Below, a few of its most notable moments throughout history.

It was the first royal yacht designed for ocean travel.

The ship was built by John Brown & Co at the same shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland in the same location the famous ocean liners the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary were constructed. With 12,000 horsepower, the ship could travel at a maximum 22.5 knots (approximately 25 miles per hour), ideal for ocean-going diplomacy. Prior to its launch in 1953, the royal family used ships from the Royal Navy or even passenger liners for the overseas portions of the royal tour.

In its 44 years of service, the HMY Britannia traveled around 1.1 million miles.

It was commissioned just two days before the death of King George VI.

The King was already in failing health by the time the designs for the HMY Britannia were submitted, and the hope was that traveling might help alleviate some of his symptoms. However, just two days after the John Brown shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland received the order the King passed away on February 6, 1952.

It would take just over a year for the ship to be completed, during which time its name remained a secret—it wasn't announced until the ship's official launch in April of 1953, less than two months before the Queen's coronation . Elizabeth cracked a bottle of English wine (in the post-war era, champagne was considered too extravagant for the launch of a ship) and announced, "I name this ship Britannia … I wish success to her and all who sail in her."

It was created to double as a hospital.

When Britannia was first envisioned, less than a decade after the end of World War II, the designers sought to make it as functional as possible, crafting a space that could be converted from an ocean-going royal residence to a seafaring hospital during any possible future wartime. The main veranda was laid out and re-enforced so that it could support a helicopter landing and the laundry was made much larger than on a standard naval vessel to accommodate the potential patients. Though the ship was never actually put to that purpose, it was pressed into service on a rescue mission to help evacuate European nationals from South Yemen in 1986.

The ship was home to a lot of history.

Long before it became a floating museum, the Britannia had an eye for history. The gold and white binnacle housed on the ship's veranda deck was originally part of the HMY Royal George , a royal yacht that served Queen Victoria . Likewise, some of the bed linens used by Queen Elizabeth aboard the vessel were originally made for Victoria's bed for one of the previous royal yachts.

Britannia's steering wheel was lifted from her namesake, the racing yacht HMY Britannia , built in 1893 for King Edward VII .

It was redesigned to be less opulent.

Despite the sense of luxury that the term "royal yacht" inspires, the Queen and Prince Philip were actually concerned when they began overseeing the project in 1952 that the original interior design plans by the design firm McInnes Gardner & Partners were too lavish for a country still recovering from the war. The interiors were ultimately redesigned by Sir Hugh Casson and received very minimal updates throughout her 44 years of service.

But it still had homey touches—by royal standards.

Suffice to say that even low-key royal living is a fairly high class. In addition to the 56-seat State Dining Room, which hosted luminaries including Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, Nelson Mandela, and multiple US Presidents, the ship also sported a formal staircase where the Queen would greet guests, separate bedrooms and sitting rooms for both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, and a phone system designed to match the unique configurations of Buckingham Palace's telephones.

In the early years of the Britannia's life it was also home to the Queen's Rolls-Royce Phantom V which was hoisted and lowered from a special garage compartment at port so that the Queen could drive her own car at each location. The space was ever so slightly too small, forcing the bumpers to be removed in order to get it into the garage without damage and then refitted when the car was removed. Ultimately Elizabeth began using cars provided for her at port instead and the garage was converted into a storage area for beer.

The steering crew couldn't see where they were going.

Life on board the HMY Britannia was far from typical for her crew. To begin with, due to the prestige and pressure of the position, the commanding officer of the royal yacht was always a flag officer, most commonly a Rear Admiral, although the first two to serve were Vice Admirals, and Britannia 's final CO was a Commodore.

While working, the crew reportedly used hand signals to communicate rather than shouting orders, in order to maintain a sense of quiet and calm for the royal residents. It was also the last ship in the royal navy where the crew members slept in hammocks, a practice that they maintained until 1973.

Perhaps the most unusual element of the ship's functioning, though, was the steering. While on most ships, the steering wheel sits on the bridge, overlooking the front of the vessel, Britannia 's was on the deck below, in the wheelhouse, which meant that the yachtsmen who were actually doing the steering couldn't see where they were going. The crew got around this rather surprising pitfall by using voice pipes from the bridge to confer navigational orders.

It was a royal honeymoon essential.

No fewer than four royal couples celebrated their honeymoons in the HMY Britannia 's honeymoon suite (the only room onboard with a double bed.)

Princess Margaret started the tradition in 1960 for her Caribbean honeymoon with Anthony Armstrong-Jones , a quiet, formal affair where dinners were taken in full evening dress every night. Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Princess Anne on her honeymoon with Captain Mark Phillips in 1973—storms and 20-foot waves left the couple stricken with seasickness for the first week of their Caribbean cruise. Prince Charles and Princess Diana famously spent their 1981 honeymoon on a Mediterranean cruise aboard the yacht. The crew managed to duck the press so efficiently they garnered the nickname "the ghost ship." The final royal honeymoon aboard the Britannia was taken by Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson , Duchess of York in 1986 when the couple traveled around the Azores.

And a family vacation spot.

In addition to her diplomatic duties on royal tours and her service as a post-wedding retreat, the Britannia was also a vessel for family vacations. During the summer months, the royal family would often take off on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around the western isles of Scotland. During the trip, the family would play games and have barbecues on the islands. The stairway off of the veranda was sometimes even converted into a waterslide for the younger royals. The tour often included a stop off at the Castle of Mey to visit the Queen Mother, then making berth in Aberdeen so that the Queen could travel to her favorite summer home, Balmoral .

The Queen openly wept when HMY Britannia was decommissioned in 1997.

With so many memories around the yacht, it's not hard to understand why the decommissioning of the Britannia was upsetting for the royal family. Though plans were initially drawn up for a replacement yacht, the government ultimately determined not to fund the effort. After the Queen officially took her leave of it in 1997, the ship was placed in the port of Leith in Scotland where it serves as a floating museum and events venue . All of the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time.

It was used for a reception for Zara Phillips before her wedding.

Though it's no longer used as their private vessel, the Britannia 's connection to the royal family didn't end in 1997. In 2011 on the night before her wedding, the Queen's oldest granddaughter Zara Phillips contracted the ship for a reception. Though her grandmother wasn't in attendance Zara celebrated her upcoming marriage to Mike Tindall onboard along with her mother and her cousins Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice.

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

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10 Facts About Royal Yacht Britannia

Peta Stamper

28 nov 2022.

The 83rd and last in a long line of royal yachts, HMY Britannia has become one of the most famous ships in the world. Now permanently moored at Edinburgh’s Port of Leith, the floating palace is a visitor attraction welcoming some 300,000 people aboard each year.

For Queen Elizabeth II, Britannia was the ideal residence for state visits and peaceful royal family holidays and honeymoons. For the British public, Britannia was a symbol of Commonwealth. For the 220 naval officers who lived aboard Britannia , and the royal family, the 412-foot-long yacht was home.

Having travelled more than a million nautical miles over 44 years of service to the British Crown, Her Majesty’s beloved boat was decommissioned in 1997. Here are 10 facts about life aboard HMY Britannia.

1. Britannia was launched by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 April 1953 using a bottle of wine, not champagne

Champagne is traditionally smashed against a ship’s hull during launching ceremonies. However, in a post-war climate champagne was seen as too frivolous, so a bottle of Empire wine was used instead.

Britannia launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland.

2. Britannia was the 83rd Royal Yacht

King George VI , Elizabeth II’s father, had first commissioned the royal yacht that would become Britannia in 1952. The previous official boat had belonged to Queen Victoria and was rarely used. The tradition of royal yachts had been started by Charles II in 1660.

George decided that the Royal Yacht Britannia should both be a regal vessel as well as a functional one.

3. Britannia had two emergency functions

Britannia was designed to be converted into a hospital ship in time of war, although that function was never used. Additionally, as part of the Cold War plan Operation Candid, in the event of nuclear war the ship would become a refuge off the north-west coast of Scotland for the Queen and Prince Philip.

4. Her maiden voyage was from Portsmouth to Grand Harbour in Malta

She carried Prince Charles and Princess Anne to Malta to meet the Queen and Prince Philip at the end of the royal couple’s Commonwealth tour. The Queen stepped aboard Britannia for the first time in Tobruk on 1 May 1954.

Over the next 43 years, Britannia would transport the Queen, members of the Royal Family and various dignitaries on some 696 foreign visits.

The HMY Britannia on a visit by the Queen to Canada in 1964

Image Credit: Royal Canadian Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

5. Britannia hosted some of the 20th century’s most notable figures

In July 1959, Britannia sailed the newly opened Saint Lawrence Seaway to Chicago where she docked, making the Queen the first British monarch to visit the city. US President Dwight Eisenhower hopped aboard Britannia for part of the journey.

In later years, Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton would also step aboard. Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, took their honeymoon cruise on Britannia in 1981.

6. The crew were volunteers from the Royal Navy

After 365 days’ service, crew members could be admitted to the Permanent Royal Yacht Service as Royal Yachtsmen (‘Yotties’) and serve until they either chose to leave or were dismissed. As a result, some yachtsmen served on  Britannia  for over 20 years.

The crew also included a detachment of Royal Marines, who would dive underneath the ship each day while moored away from home to check for mines or other threats.

7. All royal children were allocated a ‘Sea Daddy’ on board the ship

The ‘sea daddies’ were primarily tasked with looking after the children and keeping them entertained (games, picnics and water fights) during voyages. They also oversaw the children’s chores, including cleaning the life rafts.

8. There was a ‘Jelly Room’ onboard for the royal children

The yacht had a total of three galley kitchens where Buckingham Palace ‘s chefs prepared meals. Among these galleys was a chilled room called the ‘Jelly Room’ for the sole purpose of storing royal children’s jellied desserts.

9. It cost around £11 million every year to run Britannica

The cost of running Britannia was always an issue. In 1994, another expensive refit for the ageing vessel was proposed. Whether or not to refit or commission a new royal yacht entirely came down to the election result of 1997. With repairs at a proposed cost of £17 million, Tony Blair’s new Labour government were unwilling to commit public funds to replace Britannica.

HMY Britannia in 1997, London

Image Credit: Chris Allen, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

10. All the clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01pm

In December 1997,  Britannia was officially decommissioned. The clocks have been kept at 3:01pm – the exact moment the Queen went ashore for the last time following the ship’s decommissioning ceremony, during which the Queen shed a rare public tear.

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Mike Lynch confirmed dead in yacht disaster as search continues for 18-year-old daughter Hannah

Bayesian guests jonathan bloomer, his wife judy bloomer, lawyer chris morvillo, and his wife neda morvillo were also confirmed dead by italian officials, article bookmarked.

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Louise Thomas

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch has been confirmed dead after his superyacht sank off the coast of Italy , while search efforts continue for his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Five bodies have now been recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian, which capsized during the early hours of Monday morning in stormy weather and a freak tornado.

An Italian government official confirmed that the sixth and final missing passenger is Lynch’s daughter Hannah, and that she is believed to be on the boat.

The former Latymer Upper School pupil had joined her parents on the vessel, ahead of starting an English degree at the University of Oxford in September.

Morgan Stanley international bank chair Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo, have also been identified as among the deceased after a three-day search operation.

A statement from the Bloomer family expressed gratitude to the emergency services, and added: “Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.

“Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.

“This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder. Our only ask is that our family’s privacy is respected at this time.”

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht Bayesian, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

It is understood that Lynch, who was the creator of software giant Autonomy, had organised the boat trip for his family, close friends, colleagues and his legal team after winning an $11bn fraud case in June.

Tributes have begun flooding in for the 59-year-old entrepreneur, with Lynch’s Autonomy co-founder David Tabizel saying: “It looks like we’ve lost our dear Dr Mike Lynch. RIP. The world has lost a genius. His family have lost a giant of a man.”

As well as Autonomy, Lynch was on the board of several prominent institutions including the BBC and the British Library, and was a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said: “We are deeply saddened by the awful news about the deaths of those aboard the Bayesian yacht.

“Mike Lynch was an outstanding BBC director who made a major contribution during his time on the board, from 2007 to 2012.

“Wise, generous and insightful, he played a particularly key role in accelerating our transformation as a digital organisation.”

His wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 guests and crew to be rescued from the sea after they escaped on a lifeboat.

Specialist divers, fire service crew and the Italian coastguard were seen on Thursday returning to the site of the wreckage, which is resting on the seabed around half a mile off the coast of Porticello.

Salvo Cocina, of Sicily’s civil protection agency, said that an investigation would take place in due course but that the priority remained focused on finding Hannah Lynch.

However, the operation has been described as “complex”, with debris and furniture cluttering the narrow passageways leading to the cabin bedrooms, where the drowned guests have been discovered.

Divers are also only able to search the vessel in 10-minute windows due to the distance and the risk of developing nausea, known as “the bends”.

The tragedy comes as industry sources told The DailyTelegraph that Lynch put the £30m sailboat up for sale in March earlier this year, before changing his mind after he was acquitted of fraud and withdrawing it from the market four months later. He was reportedly set to review the decision in the autumn after enjoying the summer on board.

A decision on whether to immediately raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is “not on the agenda”, but will be considered in due course, a spokesperson from the Italian coastguard has said.

The disaster has baffled naval marine experts who said such a vessel, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini and presumed to have top-class safety features, should not have sunk.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which includes Perini, said the Bayesian was “one of the safest boats in the world” and practically unsinkable.

Authorities have been gathering witness statements from the survivors at a hotel complex in Porticello, while the captain James Cutfield was reportedly questioned for two hours.

An Italian doctor at the hospital where British tourist Charlotte Emsley and her one-year-old daughter were taken said the mother held her baby above the waves after the yacht sank.

Dr Domenico Cipolla, of Di Cristina Children’s Hospital in Palermo, told PA: “Obviously the mother and the husband were so shaken by what has happened, it was a tragedy for them.

“She told me that two minutes after falling asleep with her baby they were in the water, she did not understand how this happened, it went dark.

“She held the child high in her arms above the waves, for a few seconds the baby was in the water, but she saved her. She sometimes cried for her friends in the hospital.”

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Our only comfort is they’re together, say kids of couple killed on sunken yacht

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The family of Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy have described them as ‘incredible people and an inspiration to many’ following their deaths on the Bayesian yacht.

The Morgan Stanley International bank chairman and his wife had joined close friend Mike Lynch on board to celebrate the British tech magnate’s acquittal in a fraud trial in the United States.

Follow our live coverage of the search and rescue operation in Italy

Their bodies were among five recovered after the £30 million vessel sank during a storm off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning. Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah is still missing.

In a statement, Mr and Mrs Bloomer’s children said: ‘We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy.

‘We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the emergency services and everyone who helped tirelessly in this rescue operation.

‘Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.

‘Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.

‘This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder. Our only ask is that our family’s privacy is respected at this time.’

Family and friends of Mr Lynch said they were all ‘hoping for a miracle’, but have been left ‘deeply saddened’ after Italian authorities said they had recovered his body yesterday.

Friend Brent Hoberman said his death is ‘unbelievably tragic’, describing Mr Lynch as an ‘inspiring figure’ in the tech community who should be remembered for his achievements.

‘We were all hoping for a miracle – we knew it was unlikely but you still hold out hope,’ he told Sky News.

‘It’s just so unbelievably tragic for him to go through what he went through over the last 12 years, defending his name and not really living a full life, to now for his death to be confirmed is obviously incredibly sad.’

Neighbour Ruth Leigh said despite the couple being ‘wealthy, influential people’ they ‘never put any airs or graces on’ in the 15 years she knew them.

‘They’d always take the trouble to remember your name and ask after your partner or children. They didn’t have to do that. We had a great deal of respect for them,’ she told Sky News.

‘They touched a lot of people. They were well thought of, kind, generous, hospitable people.’

The Royal Academy of Engineering said: ‘The trustee board, fellows and staff of the Royal Academy of Engineering are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mike Lynch, and send our profound condolences to his family.

‘Mike became a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2008 and we have fond memories of the active role he played in the past as a mentor, donor and former council member.

‘He was also one of the inaugural members on the enterprise committee.

‘Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time’

Italian authorities said the bodies of four other passengers including Morgan Stanley International bank chairperson Jonathan Bloomer, his wife, Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife, Neda Morvillo were also recovered from the scene.

Hannah Lynch, Mr Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter is still missing.A sixth body is yet to be recovered from the wreckage.

Mr Bloomer, who is also the former honorary treasurer of the children’s charity the NSPCC, was described as ‘a very kind individual’.

Speaking about the Morgan Stanley International bank chairperson and his wife Judy, chair of the NSPCC Neil Berkett said: ‘We are deeply saddened that the deaths of Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy have been confirmed after the yacht they were on tragically sank off the coast of Sicily.

‘Jonathan and Judy were great supporters of the NSPCC over many years, with Jonathan joining our board of trustees in 2008 and serving as the honorary treasurer from 2009 to 2016.

‘We remember Jonathan from his time with us as a very kind individual with a great sense of humour and Judy as formidable and passionate.

‘We are so grateful for everything they did for children and the NSPCC and our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues at this desperately sad time.’

The 184ft yacht was struck by a freak event known as a waterspout – a tornado over water – as it moored overnight off Porticello, a fishing village 10 miles east of Palermo.

A total of 22 passengers were onboard the yacht and 15 were saved.

Recaldo Thomas, the yacht’s chef, was confirmed as the first person who had died on Tuesday.

Five of the bodies were found yesterday when rescue teams finally managed to access the ship’s sleeping cabin after being hampered by debris blocking their access.

Mr Lynch was known for his business Autonomy, which he sold to Hewlett-Packard for millions in 2011, and his venture capitalist firm Invoke Capital.

Born in Ilford, east London, to Irish parents, he graduated with a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Mr Lynch was married to Angela Bacares, with whom he shares two daughters.

Ms Bacares, 57, survived the disaster but was left using a wheelchair due to the injuries she suffered when the yacht sank.

Mr Lynch has a reported net worth valued at around £852 million, according to the Independent.

His business ventures led him to once be dubbed ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’ but also landed him in legal trouble.

Autonomy’s sale was wrapped in fraud claims, and he faced civil action in the UK before being extradited to the United States to face criminal charges.

In his first interview after being cleared, Mr Lynch told The Sunday Times: ‘Now you have a second life. The question is, what do you want to do with it?’

His friend, former cabinet minister Lord Debden, said the entrepreneur was at the ‘beginning of a new life’.

Speaking to Times Radio before Mr Lynch’s body was recovered, he said: ‘He came back to be ready to start again. He made such a contribution to Britain. His companies have put British IT in the forefront, and he was going to do it again, and we pray that he can do it again.’

Hannah had recently finished her A-Levels and was bound for Oxford University. She was due to start studying English at Trinity College later this year.

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New national flagship replacing the Royal Yacht Britannia 'to be funded through the Ministry of Defence', says Number 10

The new flagship will replace the Royal Yacht Britannia which was retired in 1997 after 44 years of service.

Political reporter @itssophiemorris

Monday 21 June 2021 17:04, UK

A new national yacht, which is reportedly set to cost £200m, will be paid for out of the Ministry of Defence's budget, Downing Street has confirmed.

The national flagship, the successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia, will sail the globe hosting trade talks.

The prime minister's official spokesperson said Boris Johnson hopes it will be built in the UK, but that international rules on procurement will be followed.

Mr Johnson announced the commissioning of the new flagship earlier this year , saying it would be used to promote British interests around the world as the UK seeks to build trade links post-Brexit.

The vessel will be part of and crewed by the Royal Navy, the PM said.

"Every aspect of the ship, from its build to the businesses it showcases on board, will represent and promote the best of British - a clear and powerful symbol of our commitment to be an active player on the world stage," he added.

Labour has previously called on the government to set out how the yacht will boost trade and jobs in the UK and to "focus on value for money" with regards to the project.

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Conservative Jake Berry, who is chairman of the Northern Research Group of MPs, has campaigned for the vessel to be built by Cammell Laird on Merseyside.

And at a lobby briefing on Monday, the PM's official spokesperson confirmed the new flagship will be "funded through the Ministry of Defence".

"This new national flagship will boost British trade and drive investment into the economy," he said.

"The procurement process, which is being done through the MoD, will reflect its wide-ranging use and so it will be funded through the MoD, as set out previously."

The PM's official spokesperson declined to comment on where the MoD would find the reported £200m required for the project out of its budget, but did confirm the new vessel will not be a warship.

"We will set out the exact detail in due course but this is a trade ship, it is not a military vessel," he said.

The Royal Yacht Britannia was launched by The Queen in 1953 and was retired in 1997 after completing 44 years of service.

The new national flagship is expected to be in service for around 30 years.

The yacht's name is yet to be announced, but reports have suggested it will pay homage to the Duke of Edinburgh who was Lord High Admiral from 2011 until his death earlier this year, and served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

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Where is the Royal Yacht Britannia and why was it decommissioned?

Queen Elizabeth’s farewell to the Royal Yacht in 1997 was one of the only occasions in her 70-year-reign that Her Majesty publicly shed a tear.

Almost 25 years ago, HMY Britannia left Portsmouth for a farewell tour around the UK . It went to six major ports across the UK, including Glasgow.

Why was the Royal Yacht Britannia decommissioned and where is it today?

Why was it decommissioned?

The Royal Yacht was decommissioned in 1994 by John Major’s Government because “the costs were too great”, according to the official website.

The decision was made after the Royal Yacht was used for a long and successful journey spanning 44 years and travelling more than one million miles across the globe.

The issue of a new royal yacht became a political issue in the run-up to the 1997 General Election, when the new Labour Government came into power.

After the election, Tony Blair’s Government confirmed in October 1997 there would be no replacement for Britannia.

It marked the end of a long tradition of British royal yachts, dating back to 1660 and the reign of Charles II.

Where is the HMY Britannia?

Britannia is permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal, Leith, in Edinburgh, Scotland .

Today, the Royal yacht is open to curious visitors and welcomes more than 300,000 visits each year.

Britannia was launched in 1953 from the John Brown and Company shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland .

Its purpose was to serve the Royal Family and it was the first to be built with complete ocean-going capacity, designed as a royal residence to entertain guests around the world.

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For more than 44 years, it travelled more than one million miles with Her Majesty for state visits, official receptions, royal honeymoons, and relaxing family holidays.

Britannia quickly became one of the most famous ships in the world and now stands as a majestic symbol of Great Britain.

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There are five decks to explore on board the Clydebank-built former Royal Yacht of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A floating palace , holiday home and ambassador for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, Britannia travelled around the world many times over for more than forty years.

What will be your highlight during a visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia ?

-Wander through the stunning yet understated State Apartments, where royalty, world leaders and celebrities met. Step into The State Drawing Room, where Sir No ë l Coward, Princess Diana and Princess Margaret all tickled the ivories on the Welmar grand piano, which was secured to the floor, in case of inclement weather.

-On a sunny Edinburgh day, bask in Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite room on Britannia, The Sun Lounge, where the Royal Family would take breakfast and afternoon tea. Look out for the hidden drinks cabinet and the rum tub!

-Don’t miss a photo opportunity on the Verandah Deck next to Britannia’s famous bell, the only place on board where The Royal Yacht’s name can be found, and the Deck where games would be played by members of the Royal Family. 

- Below deck , discover another side to Britannia as you experience the working ship’s life through The Bridge, The Admiral’s Quarters, Officers’ cabins, The Wardroom, Galleys, the Laundry and even the onboard Operating Theatre!

-Take home a sweet memory of a freshly-made fudge treat from the NAAFI onboard shop.

-Imagine the noise and the hustle and bustle within the immaculate Engine Room, barely changed since construction in 1953, and containing polished chrome, white enamel and gleaming black steam turbines.

-Learn about the Royal Family’s love of sailing in the Royal Sailing exhibition. 

-Raise a glass in the Royal Deck Tea Room while you can enjoy the far-reaching Leith waterfront views and choose from a delicious Champagne Cream Tea or melt-in-the-mouth cakes and scones, all prepared in the original Galleys.

-For young Captains in the making, spot the Cuddly Corgis in Britannia’s Corgi Treasure Hunt and specially created Children’s audio guide.

-Before you disembark and say farewell to The Royal Yacht Britannia, don't forget to indulge in some retail therapy in the Gift Shop where you can take home exclusive Britannia souvenirs from your amazing time aboard.

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The Royal Yacht Britannia is scheduled to be closed 7 – 10 October for planned building works out with our control.

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Body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch recovered from sunken superyacht

PORTICELLO, Italy — The body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch was recovered from the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily , a source familiar with the matter told CNBC on Thursday.

The source said rescuers were still searching for Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, the l ast p er son missing from the luxury boat , which went down in what authorities said was a freak storm early Monday.

A massive search effort was launched, and four bodies were recovered from the 180-foot Bayesian on Wednesday after an operation hampered by the depth to which the wreck had sunk and the debris that blocked divers’ path through its narrow passages.

Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, confirmed to NBC News on Thursday morning that a fifth body had been recovered. And hours later, CNBC reported that the body of Lynch, regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” was among them.

The U.K.'s Royal Academy of Engineering said Thursday morning that it was “deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mike Lynch,” who is one of its fellows. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time,” the academy said in a statement on X .

The others missing were Lynch's associates, who had successfully defended him in a blockbuster U.S. fraud trial earlier this summer: Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International and the British insurance firm Hiscox, and his wife, Judy; and a well-known New York City defense attorney, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife, Neda.

The body of Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian Antiguan national who was the ship’s cook, was recovered shortly after the accident Monday.

Fifteen of the 22 people onboard survived.

Waves gently crashed against the rocks of Porticello, a port near the Italian island’s main city, Palermo, with the sea calm as rescuers brought ashore green body bags Wednesday — a stark contrast to just three days ago, when officials believe the yacht was hit by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

The vessel was anchored about a half-mile offshore when it sank, leaving divers to search its hull on the seabed 164 feet underwater.

The dock has swarmed for days with journalists, photographers and curious onlookers taking photos with their smartphones as rescue teams traveled to and from the site of the wreck.

Claudio Lavanga reported from Porticello and Yuliya Talmazan from London.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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Watch & listen

The body of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch has been recovered from the Bayesian yacht off the coast of Sicily , a source close to the family says

The search is continuing for one person who's still missing - it's believed it is Mike's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah

Five bodies have been brought ashore but they have not been formally identified

One body - that of Recaldo Thomas, the yacht's chef - was recovered from the sea on Monday

In total, 15 people survived, with six bodies recovered, and one person still missing

Live Reporting

Edited by Johanna Chisholm and Sophie Abdulla

Body seen inside yacht is male - reports published at 14:58 British Summer Time 21 August 14:58 BST 21 August

One of the bodies spotted inside the hull of the yacht is believed to be that of a man, according to reports from Reuters and Italian media.

Divers are still at the scene working to recover the bodies - the second and third victims of the sinking.

There has been no official word from Italian authorities on the identities of those who've died.

Body lifted out of water published at 14:55 British Summer Time 21 August 14:55 BST 21 August Breaking

I’ve just seen divers lifting what appears to be a body out of the water.

Confirmation of two bodies found published at 14:50 British Summer Time 21 August 14:50 BST 21 August Breaking

Stefano Fasano Live reporter

The head of Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, has now confirmed to the BBC that two bodies have been found in the sunken yacht.

Rescue divers are now working to extract them, he adds.

Two bodies found inside sunken yacht - reports published at 14:45 British Summer Time 21 August 14:45 BST 21 August Breaking

Two bodies have been found inside the sunken yacht off the coast of Sicily, Reuters news agency and Italian media report.

Reuters cites an unnamed source close to the search operation as saying two of the six missing passengers have been located inside the vessel.

Rescue teams did not immediately give the names or the sex of the two people, it adds.

Separately, la Repubblica reports the bodies were seen behind two mattresses.

Divers have been attempting to access the boat - which is around 50m (165ft) below the surface - since Monday morning.

The BBC has not independently verified the reports.

Watch: Yacht search continues by sea and air published at 14:31 British Summer Time 21 August 14:31 BST 21 August

The Italian coastguard has released footage of its ongoing search operation off the coast of Sicily.

Rescue workers are seen in a helicopter flying over the area in which the yacht sank, and using a remote controlled device to search the seabed.

It is now around 56 hours since the Bayesian was capsized by a storm.

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Italian coastguard deploys helicopter and ROV during operation

Divers have just 10 minutes on the wreck without risking sickness, says expert published at 14:02 British Summer Time 21 August 14:02 BST 21 August

Thomas Copeland Live reporter

Rescue divers are facing a "really dangerous" operation getting inside the Bayesian, says a British wreck diving expert.

Sitting on its side at 50m (165ft) beneath the surface, professional diver Andy Goddard tells BBC Radio 5 Live that it will be "pretty dark" on the wreck - as there's not a lot of ambient light inside.

"You're in this space and you've got stuff floating all around you, like being in a washing machine. It's really dangerous for the diver," he says.

On top of this, at that depth the rescuer has just 10 minutes to work on the wreck before being forced to stop and allow excess nitrogen which has built up inside their body to dissipate.

Otherwise they risk getting a dangerous condition known as decompression sickness, also known as the bends.

The maximum depth most experienced recreational divers are allowed to go to is 40m (130ft), with most dives occurring at depths significantly less extreme than that.

"I've done that type of work in shallow water and it really isn't very pleasant," Goddard adds.

He adds the divers are likely still using scuba gear because they hoped this would be a rescue mission.

If it becomes clear that this has become "a recovery situation", he says, then the operation will change.

Helicopter deployed as rescue operation continues published at 13:53 British Summer Time 21 August 13:53 BST 21 August

A fire service helicopter has just landed near the port in Porticello, Sicily, to support the multi-agency search and rescue operation taking place.

In an update earlier, the coastguard said naval, air and underwater resources were being deployed to support the search for the six missing people.

The last known movements of Bayesian yacht published at 13:35 British Summer Time 21 August 13:35 BST 21 August

By Kumar Malhotra

BBC Verify has been looking at ship tracking data of the last movements of the Bayesian before it was hit by freak weather in the early hours of Monday and it shows just how quickly events unfolded.

The superyacht was less than one kilometre from the entrance to the harbour at Porticello on the northern coast of Sicily, according to the Marinetraffic.com website.

Just before 04:00 local time (02:00 BST) the Bayesian and a nearby yacht (Sir Robert Baden-Powell) start to move, quickly picking up speed further out to sea and away from Porticello harbour.

Less than 15 minutes later, the tracking data for the Bayesian shows that it has suddenly stopped, and the nearby yacht also stops shortly afterwards - just 200m (656ft) away.

The Sir Robert Baden-Powell is then seen moving slowly around in this area, presumably looking to rescue any survivors. The Bayesian is no longer moving, and this is its last recorded position, according to the tracking data.

Bayesian captain 'very well respected,' his brother says published at 13:14 British Summer Time 21 August 13:14 BST 21 August

The captain of the sunken Bayesian yacht, James Cutfield, is a "very good sailor" with years of experience, his brother has told the New Zealand Herald.

The 51-year-old Kiwi - who survived the shipwreck and is currently in hospital - is "very well respected" in the Mediterranean, his brother says.

He also says Cutfield has been a luxury yacht captain for eight years, working for a Turkish billionaire before Mike Lynch on the Bayesian.

"He's safe", his brother tells the paper, adding that his wife is by his side.

As we've been reporting, an assessment has begun into what caused the vessel to go down.

Five things to know this lunchtime published at 13:06 British Summer Time 21 August 13:06 BST 21 August

As the third day of searching for those missing from the sunken Bayesian yacht continues, here's a reminder of the latest developments:

• Divers who are trying to gain access to the shipwreck - via a sleeping cabin - have been seen coming to and from the harbour in Porticello, Sicily
• Their efforts continue to be hampered by a range of issues , including the yacht laying on a tilt on the seabed and 3cm (1.2in) thick glass preventing them from being able to see inside some windows
• The operation is being aided by remote controlled underwater vehicles , which the coastguard says can operate on the seabed at a depth of up to 300m (984ft) and work for up to seven hours
• A team of UK inspectors has arrived at the site to conduct a preliminary assessment into the foundering of the yacht, the BBC understands
• So far, one body has been recovered - believed to be that of Recaldo Thomas , a Canadian-Antiguan and the onboard chef, and six people are still missing : businessman Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, fellow British citizens Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, and two American citizens, Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo

How air pockets form and what they are - an expert explains published at 12:31 British Summer Time 21 August 12:31 BST 21 August

Matt Spivey Live reporter

We reported yesterday that Jeremy Bloomer, the twin brother of missing Jonathan Bloomer, had told the BBC he hoped "there might be air pockets" somewhere on the sunken Bayesian yacht - and that he and his family were "coping as best they can" during the ongoing search.

The Italian coastguard has not said whether there's any evidence onboard the vessel of air pockets, which can help to prolong breathable air. In the meantime, I got in touch with an expert to explain what they are and how they form.

Matthew Schanck, chair of Maritime Search and Rescue Council, tells me "air pockets form when air is forced into parts of a vessel from which it can't escape ".

"Their formation depends on a number of factors, including the entry points for water and any potential exit points for the air," he says.

There is also the possibility that air pockets form, Schanck goes on, "but they may not be significant enough to keep the vessel buoyant".

"Air pockets do eventually run out , depending on the size of the air pocket and what air has been trapped . Air pockets may also be released after the sinking if the vessel is disturbed or shifts ."

A file photo of the Bayesian yacht sailing off the coast of Italy

How underwater vehicles are supporting the investigation published at 12:11 British Summer Time 21 August 12:11 BST 21 August

There's just been a progress update from the Italian coastguard as the search for six missing people off the coast of Sicily continues.

It says the search has "continued without stopping" since dawn, using naval, air and underwater resources, coordinated by the Palermo coastguard.

As we reported earlier, remote controlled underwater vehicles - known as ROVs, or remotely operated vehicles - have been deployed by the coastguard to support the operation.

The coastguard hopes it will provide "useful and timely elements" to reconstruct the ship's sinking to an investigation by the nearby public prosecutor's office of Termini Imerese.

It says the ROV:

• can operate on the seabed at a depth of up to 300m (984ft), and for between six and seven hours ,
• is equipped with advanced technology that allows it to scour the seabed,
• and can record detailed videos and images

Rescue divers return to harbour published at 11:32 British Summer Time 21 August 11:32 BST 21 August

We can bring you some new images now from Porticello, Sicily, where rescue divers have just returned to harbour.

Divers are facing multiple challenges in accessing the wreckage , which is lying 50m (165ft) below the surface of the water.

UK inspectors in Sicily to conduct assessment, BBC understands published at 11:12 British Summer Time 21 August 11:12 BST 21 August

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has arrived in Sicily at the site of the yacht sinking, the BBC understands.

They're there to conduct a preliminary assessment into the foundering of the Bayesian yacht, which sank near Palermo on Monday.

Four of the six people still missing are British, the other two are American.

What are waterspouts and how common are they? published at 10:56 British Summer Time 21 August 10:56 BST 21 August

Witnesses describe seeing a waterspout form during the storm before the Bayesian yacht sank.

Most of us are aware of what tornadoes are - rotating columns of destructive winds, protruding from the base of clouds down to the ground.

Waterspouts are just that too, but are over water rather than land. Instead of dust and debris swirling around the core of strong winds, it’s water mist whipped up from the surface.

Like tornadoes, most are only short-lived, narrow columns and are not easily picked out on weather radars, so many will go unreported.

However, they are not as rare as you may think. According to the International Centre for Waterspout Research, there were 18 confirmed waterspouts off the coast of Italy on 19 August (the day the yacht went down) alone.

In the northern hemisphere, waterspouts are most common in late summer and through the autumn, when sea temperatures are at their highest, fuelling the storm clouds. But with sea temperatures rising due to climate change, there is a concern that they could become more common.

In the last week, the Mediterranean has registered its highest sea surface temperature on record, which has helped to energise this recent storm outbreak.

Experts striving to find out why Bayesian sank the way it did published at 10:32 British Summer Time 21 August 10:32 BST 21 August

Questions are continually being asked as to how this incident happened - how it was that this particular yacht was hit and sank this way, when other boats roundabout were not hit.

A team of British investigators is here in Sicily, working closely with the Italians to try and assess what happened.

There have been questions about whether it was the mast, whether hatches were closed - but of course the priority remains locating the missing.

Many people, experts in the field, have described the waterspout (we'll explain that in our next post) as an extreme condition, something that is very hard to plan for in terms of knowing it’s going to come then and where.

However, people will be asking whether there were enough measures taken to mitigate such extreme weather events, which of course we know can happen.

Rescue workers to try entering sleeping cabin today published at 10:05 British Summer Time 21 August 10:05 BST 21 August

Italian emergency services gathered at Porticello harbour this morning

This is a very challenging operation.

Rescue services say they have teams of specialist divers who are used to working in small, cramped quarters. The depth of the shipwreck is proving a big challenge.

They have also been hampered, we’ve been told, by the fact that the boat is lying on its side and the access points are choked with debris, so it’s very difficult to gain access to the yacht itself.

What we understand is that they want today to try and get into a cabin where some of the missing may have been sleeping.

The rescue services know that with every passing hour, the chances of finding people still alive is diminishing.

However, in the words of one rescue worker, never say never.

More vessels head to site of sunken yacht published at 09:55 British Summer Time 21 August 09:55 BST 21 August

We're beginning to see more images from this morning, as the search and recue operation entered its third day.

A variety of vessels have headed out to sea, off the coast of Porticello in Sicily, as the coastguard scours the ocean surface and divers attempt to gain access to the cabins inside the wreck for any sign of the six missing passengers .

Here's the scene:

Rescue divers were seen climbing onto a boat - bringing what look like air tanks with them

Italian costguard vessels have been present since the operation began

An inflatable emergency lifeboat was also pictured this morning

Six things hampering the search and rescue operation published at 09:40 British Summer Time 21 August 09:40 BST 21 August

More now on the Bayesian yacht rescue operation, which Matthew Schanck, of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, says will be aided by survivors' accounts, witnesses and examination of the sunken vessel.

Speaking to Reuters, he says he's "confident the authorities will get to the bottom of what caused the shipwreck".

The Italian coastguard is yet to share an update this morning, but yesterday the BBC heard about some of things that make this search difficult:

• The wreckage is 50m (165ft) below the surface of the water - laying on a tilt on the seabed
• A 'world of objects' are blocking access to the cabins, meaning that divers can only access a small section of the boat
• Divers can only spend between eight to 10 minutes searching the wreck beneath the water during each dive
• Divers are unable to see inside the yacht as 3cm (1.2inch) thick glass windows are preventing access
• Specialist divers who are trained to work in the small spaces have had to be flown in from Rome and Sardinia
• The bridge of the yacht - the room where the captain controls the vessel - is full of electrical cables

Vicar describes 'sense of shock' at missing couple's church published at 09:12 British Summer Time 21 August 09:12 BST 21 August

Daniel Sexton & Mark Norman Reporting from Knockholt

As we said in our earlier post , Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank International, and his wife Judy are among the six people still missing.

Their local vicar in the south-east of England has expressed shock at what's happened, describing it as "really impossible news to take onboard".

The couple, who live in Knockholt, Kent, regularly attended St Katharine's Church in the village. They're well known to locals and to other churchgoers, the Reverend Tim Edwards tells the BBC.

"I'm not going to say much about how the rest of the family feel - but I think they'd say similar to what I'd say now about that sense of shock," he says.

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Body Of Mike Lynch Recovered From Sicily Yacht. BBC News. Video Body Of Mike Lynch Recovered From Sicily Yacht

Prosecutors to investigate Mike Lynch superyacht’s keel

Questions raised over stability of the Bayesian following discovery by specialist divers

Prosecutors will investigate the keel on Mike Lynch’s superyacht after it was found “partially elevated”.

On Wednesday, specialist divers continued to recover the remains of the missing passengers, and the tech entrepreneur and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are believed to be among those pulled out of the water.

While exploring the Bayesian 165ft underwater on the seabed, it was reported that the vessel’s retractable keel was partially raised, raising questions about the boat’s stability at the time of the sinking.

The fin-like structure under the hull helped to stabilise the boat, acting as a counterweight to the mast, and stretched to 9.83 metres when the vessel’s centreboard was fully extended, according to a brochure about the yacht’s performance .

Experts have suggested the keel would normally be fully extended for extra stability during bad weather.

Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, a senior lecturer in Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering at Aston University, and a fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, said: “The keel is vital to the stability of sailing vessels, and a deeper keel will provide additional stability.

“However, this is at the expense of draft, meaning shallow-water harbours and anchorages may become out of reach.

“For this reason, large superyachts are typically fitted with a lifting keel, allowing part of the keel to retract inside the vessel and reduce the draft. In such a case, the stability of the vessel is greatly diminished.

“Part of the investigation will, therefore, look into the keel. It is important to note that, even if found partially up, this could result from the impact with the bottom of the sea as the vessel sank, so early external observations may not be sufficient to draw conclusions.”

Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy frigate commander and current Telegraph columnist , said: “If it turns out that this keel was retractable, and that was its condition during this accident, then that would change your stability condition a great deal and would probably bring the pendulum effect of the mast into play.

“It doesn’t change what should be standard responses to bad weather at anchor, such as tracking forecasts, keeping a good visual look out and then when it happens, checking the upper deck for watertight integrity/security, starting your engine, taking the weight off the anchor and so on. It just makes them even more important.”

Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation into the disaster and will seek to establish what caused the boat to sink and if any of the crew are criminally liable.

Another early focus of the investigation, which is expected to last months, is likely to be whether the yacht’s crew had failed to close access hatches into the vessel before it was hit by a tornado above the sea, known as a waterspout, off the coast of Sicily .

Survivor interviews

Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, and assistant prosecutors must determine what went wrong and whether the sinking of the Bayesian was down to human error or simply a freak weather event.

He and his team have already started interviewing the 15 survivors  as well as gathering evidence from emergency workers and divers from the coast guard and the national fire service.

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which has sent investigators to the scene, is also expected to support the prosecutor’s inquiries.

The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini Navi, the company that built the Bayesian yacht, said that even without the retractable keel the vessel would still be stable.

A spokesman said: “The yacht was built in 2008 by the Perini shipyards of Viareggio and the last refit was in 2020.

“The controversies about the mast are sterile controversies because the mast, according to those who have seen it, is intact.

“The retractable keel stabilizes the ship, but even without the keel completely out the ship is stable and only a massive entry of water could have caused the sinking which did not happen in a minute as someone wrote.”

Bodies recovered

Teams of specialist divers, including some who took part in the Costa Concordia recovery , spent most of Wednesday searching for the six missing passengers who had gathered on the boat to celebrate Mr Lynch’s acquittal in a fraud trial .

The teams broke through a 3cm pane of glass on the side of the yacht yesterday and entered the hull, using special jacks produced by a locksmith in Porticello.

Divers had been frustrated by a 12-minute time limit required when working at a depth of 48 metres and had spoken about the challenges of dealing with narrow corridors and floating debris obstructing their way. They used remotely operated vehicles to help them in the search.

Eventually, two bodies were recovered from the wreckage on Wednesday – believed to be those of Mike Lynch and his teenage daughter, Hannah.

Three other bodies were then found, but only two were recovered and brought to shore, Salvatore Cocina, the head of Sicily’s civil protection agency, confirmed. One person remains missing.

As the body bags were taken back to the port of Porticello, dozens of emergency services staff were waiting and one was seen being put in the back of an ambulance.

The Italian coast guard previously did not rule out the possibility that those missing may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank.

Also missing are Jonathan Bloomer, the Morgan Stanley International bank chairman, and his wife Judy Bloomer, as well as Chris Morvillo, a Clifford Chance lawyer, and his wife Neda Morvillo.

The Bayesian was moored about half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at about 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm.

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