New £200m Royal Yacht to be named in honour of Philip

Rue Britannia...Queen and Prince Philip’s final visit in December 1997

A NEW Royal Yacht is to be commissioned by the Government and named after Prince Philip.

The £200million vessel would be a successor to HMY Britannia, which was controversially decommissioned by Tony Blair in 1997, and be used to boost trade plus drive investment in the UK.

The Duke of Edinburgh was Lord High Admiral from 2011 until he died last month aged 99. He also served in the Royal Navy during the SecondWorldWar.

The building of the ship will be revealed by Boris Johnson “within weeks”, it has been reported, and MPs are already calling for the ship to be built in the UK.

Downing Street did not deny the reports, with a spokesman saying: “The Prime Minister has an exciting vision for shipbuilding in this country and is committed to making the UK a shipbuilding superpower.

“We are always looking for new ways to promote global Britain around the world, driving investment back to the UK and delivering value for money.”

The yacht would sail around the world, promoting British interests including by hosting meetings.

Conservative MP Craig Mckinlay has campaigned for a replacement for Britannia. He said: “A new national flagship proudly bearing the name of Prince Philip can be no better memorial to this much-loved and respected man. I am delighted that the years of effort to prove to ministers the value of such a vessel to our country’s global brand is now on the brink of becoming reality.

“My latest joint letter signed by fellow MPs and peers may have helped get this project over the line. I am overjoyed.”

Jake Berry, chairman of the Northern Research Group of MPs, has called for HMY Prince Philip to be built by Cammell Laird on Merseyside.

Mr Berry said: “This successor to Britannia enables Britain to take her proper place in the world once again. I am delighted Boris has been brave enough to discount the doubters and bean counters who did not have the vision to see what this new ship can add to global Britain.

“Commemorating the Duke of Edinburgh in this way is respectful and deeply appropriate.”

Since being decommissioned, HMY Britannia has been berthed at Leith, Edinburgh as a popular tourist attraction.

The HMS Queen Elizabeth, an aircraft carrier, was sent on its first deployment last week.

Tearful end for yacht...Queen and the Duke