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See Kate Middleton name the Royal Princess
Thousands turned out in Southampton to watch Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, name the Royal Princess yesterday.
In what is expected to be her last solo public engagement before her child is due next month, the Dunchess cut a cord to send the traditional bottle of champagne smashing against the hull of the ship.
"We can think of no more fitting godmother for our magnificent new Royal Princess," said Alan Buckelew, Princess Cruises’ president and CEO.
"Her Royal Highness is an inspiring ambassador for Britain – with whom Princess Cruises shares strong ties – and she is admired around the world for her style and grace. We’re so honored she accepted our invitation to become godmother to our new ship."
Previous ‘godmothers’ for Princess Cruises include Diana Princess of Wales (who named the first Royal Princess in 1984), Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Dame Margaret Thatcher and Olivia de Havilland.
At the naming ceremony British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield sang her hit "Unwritten," while West End star Kerry Ellis also performed.
The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and The Pipe Band of 1st Battalion Irish Guards opened the event with the pomp and ceremony of British ship-naming traditions.
The Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, conducted the traditional ship’s blessing.
The event completed a week of events to launch the ship, including a special gala last night with agents, customers, press and celebrities including Bruce Forsyth, Des O’Connor and Christopher Biggins.
Also at the celebrations were representatives from the charities East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, SkillForce and WellChild, who’s Patrons are The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry respectively.
The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess will make its maiden voyage to Barcelona on June 16 and will then sail on Grand Mediterranean cruises throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the autumn.
A replay of the Royal Princess naming ceremony can be viewed at www.princess.com/royalprincessnaming.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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