BRITISH ROYAL YACHTS

A COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY

The decommissioning of HMV Britannia in 1997 brought to a close several centuries of British naval tradition and, as H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh points out in his foreword to this book, `appropriately the last occasion of her ceremonial life was the handover of Hong Kong which marked the end of an empire:

For almost seventy years there has been no new detailed record of the Royal Yachts of Britain and this long-awaited study details every one of the eighty-three Royal Yachts in  service since the restoration of Charles II, and also includes those `vessels of State' effectively used as Royal Yachts prior to 1660. The yachts are classified into those vessels principally used by the monarch, those used for State duties, and those allocated to the Commissioners of the Royal Dockyards and the Governors of the Isle of Wight. A separate chapter examines the history of those yachts allocated to

the Lords Lieutenant of Ireland.and those allocated to the Commissioners of the Royal Dockyards and the Governors of the Isle of Wight. A separate chapter examines the history of those yachts allocated to the Lords Lieutenant of Ireland.Profusely illustrated with paintings, drawings, plans and photographs chosen from major national and private collections, the work thus provides an unparalleled visual record of each vessel and reveals changing styles in marine art and in the development of naval architecture. Useful appendices list the yachts chronologically by monarch and provide the derivation of each vessel's name.

This is a book that will be greatly enjoyed by all those with an interest in Britain's maritime heritage, and in her proud royal traditions