Duchess to Name Cunard’s Queen Victoria

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to Name Cunard’s New Queen Victoria

Cunard Line is delighted to announce that Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, will attend a ceremony in Southampton on December 10, 2007, to mark the introduction of Cunard’s new 90,000-ton liner Queen Victoria. At this ceremony, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will perform the naming of the ship.

This naming will be a milestone in both Cunard and British maritime history, and will be a major event of worldwide interest, with over 2,000 VIP guests from around the globe in attendance at the prestigious ceremony.

“This will be an historic occasion. We are most honoured that Their Royal Highnesses have accepted our invitation and that Her Royal Highness will name our newest Cunarder,” said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. “Every one of our Cunard Queens has been named by a member of the Royal Family and we are therefore delighted that Queen Victoria will follow in that tradition. In addition, this particular ceremony will mark the beginning of a new era, as it will be the first time in our 168-year history that we will have three Cunard Queens in service at the same time,” added Marlow.

Queen Victoria will not only be a classic Cunard ocean liner, offering the very best of Cunard heritage and traditions, but will also be the second largest Cunarder the company has ever built. She will be in Southampton for four days, during which time over 7,000 guests from around the world will visit the ship. Queen Victoria will depart on her Maiden Voyage on Tuesday December 11, 2007.