Honouring Philip with a royal yacht would be enduring, perfect tribute
‘As a floating force for good, it will help the UK’S status, boost its trade, and benefit the cultural life of the nation’
As our nation mourns, Prince Philip is rightly being remembered for his vitality, his resilience and his public service. Most tangibly, millions of people of all backgrounds, cultures and abilities in the UK and around the world have been equipped and empowered by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Their lives were changed for the better and that will be his legacy.
As a nation, we will want to pay formal tribute to our longest serving consort. A man who devoted his life to the betterment of the United Kingdom. We are searching for a suitable memorial. One that recognises his passions, his contribution and his life.
I can think of no more enduring and fitting tribute than recognising the Duke’s enduring connection to the sea by commissioning a replacement to the Royal Yacht Britannia in his memory. During the Duke’s life of service, he travelled more than 70,000 miles in Britannia and completed two circumnavigations of the world in her. He played a key role in commissioning and designing the yacht in the 1950s.
The Duke was, through his 70 years of service to this nation, often photographed in naval uniform; from the picture of the dashing newlyweds at Buckingham Palace in 1947, through to his role as the Lord High Admiral of the UK, which he held until his death.
It is ironic that Tony Blair scrapped any notion of a replacement for the royal yacht when he came to power in 1997, in a rush to burnish his modernising credentials. Now that decision looks dated and short sighted.
This decision robbed Britain of an important symbol of her national identity and what should have been regarded as a normal part of our nation’s armoury of soft power. Britannia was a symbol of our nation that could travel the world.
It seems that such penny pinching only seems to apply to the means of transportation. No government questions the value of our network of embassies around the world. Nor do they question our state welcoming global leaders with the most lavish of celebrations, including the inevitable state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Governments take advantage and promote the involvement of the Royal family in such occasions and value our monarchy’s ability to project both stability and power around the world. It is almost universally recognised that it is good for Britain, good for business and represents money well spent.
Launched on the Clyde in 1953, Britannia was the latest in a line of royal yachts stretching back to the reign of Charles II, as Prince Philip himself acknowledged when Britannia was decommissioned in 2003.
It was a floating royal palace, which enabled the British Royal family to arrive in the great seaports of the world by water, with attending crowds and befitting celebration. It also served the public good and was a hospital ship and a floating board room used by UK government and business leaders alike to clinch deals for the nation. In 1993, on one trip to India alone, £1.3billion of trade deals were signed as this regal venue was used to her full power.
Her Majesty the Queen is a global icon. She is the longest serving head of state in the world and cherished by millions around the globe.
She is head of the Commonwealth, a family of 54 nations which encompasses some of the fastest growing economies in the world.
A new royal yacht would be a fitting venue to celebrate the Queen’s contribution to the success of the Commonwealth and a symbol for this expanding global trading network for Britain. She would serve as a sister ship to our aircraft carriers Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales.
When not in use, she could perhaps be deployed for environmental research projecting Britain’s leading role in combating climate change – a cause Prince Philip campaigned for – and she could even be used as a training ship for those completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award. It could serve as a flagship for British shipbuilding and, in line with government policy could be constructed in a British shipyard showcasing UK craftsmanship.
Britain needs a new royal yacht. As a floating force for good, it will help the UK’S status, boost its trade, and benefit the cultural life of the nation. Most fitting of all it will recognise the immense contribution, service and dedication the Duke selflessly gave. It is time to commission a new royal yacht and to name it Duke of Edinburgh.