Ever since I can remember, the Royal Yacht Brittania has been a dream of mine; just to stand on her decks for a moment would suffice. I had no desire to be a Princess, or sail the world in her (where would I fit my pony), but just be there, for a moment.
The problem with dreams is that when the day cometh, there’s a strong chance of shattered illusions and banishment of magic.
Not when it came to Brittania. She was everything I imagined, and more. From beautifully polished decks, to the simply elegant Queen’s bedroom, she was perfect. Here we could wander the cramped quarters of the Royal Marines, observe the engine rooms, and see where the Queen worked at her desk for several hours every day.
The self-guided tour was very well done, with information about each room and the staff who used it. Family photos, daily rosters and so much more… a peek into an era which won’t be repeated.
I guess it wasn’t the Queen who ladled out the rum from this on her relaxation deck!
The Queen liked simple elegance…
The onboard landrover for land-based excursions:
I would have difficulty picking up these huge tools, let alone use them! (Compare them to the steps).
The silver ship below is just the lid from a salt shaker gifted to the Queen by some dignitary! Not sure what she was meant to do with a shaker that size…
Flags for messaging…
There’s something incredibly special about finding this from New Zealand in the Brittania.
My dream of stepping foot on the Brittania is complete.
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