The Royal Yacht Britannia by Brian Hoey

Publisher: 192pp £ 14.99

The Queen gave the author permission to view Britannia’s state apartments. The outstanding photographs, usually coloured, of Britannia, her immediate predecessors amd Royalty give the impression of a beautiful picture book but the text is excellent. The yacht, life aboard at sea, in harbour, on official visits and holidays and the duties of both yachtsmen and the Royal Household are described fully. The whole period from conception to paying-off is covered but of her active service only that in Aden in detail. Rather, illustrative and frequently amusing stories are told of many incidents. There is a brief history of royal yachts since Charles II. The economics and commercial use of Britannia are discussed. Finally specifications of her equipment and machinery with a plan of the ship are given and all her flag officers and the whole ship’s company at the time of paying-off listed. A fitting memorial to a long, happy and glorious commission. -JLC