By
Michele Witthaus |
In honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, Cunard Line brought all three of its cruise ships together in the Port of Southampton on 5 June 2012.
The Queen is the godmother of both the line's flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, both of which joined Queen Victoria in their home port for the Royal Rendezvous. She is the only person to have attended the naming of all three ‘Cunard Elizabeths’, from the original Queen Elizabeth in 1938 and Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1967 to the new Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
Cunard said it believed the event was the largest Diamond Jubilee celebration outside London. All three ships sailed in single file up Southampton Water in formation early in the morning in preparation for a day of tributes, celebrations and displays to mark the Jubilee.
“Cunard is delighted to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in a way that gives everyone, especially our guests, a truly remarkable day that they will feel proud to talk about for years to come, taking part in history and marking the sixty glorious years of Her Majesty’s reign in fitting, legendary and memorable Cunard style,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.
The evening celebrations included a fireworks display, although due to heavy cloud and rain, a planned aerobatic performance by the Red Arrows was cancelled, although the pilots joined guests on board to enjoy the entertainment.
Queen Mary 2 then led Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth back down Southampton Water as all three ships set out on their Diamond Jubilee voyages.