“I name this ship Queen Victoria. May God bless her and all who sail in her,” declared Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, in time-honored manner, before the backup jeroboam of Veuve Cliquot champagne (first bottle didn’t break) smashed against the spotlit starboard side of its black bow. The ship’s horns blew in celebration, and the 2,000 invited guests, including Camilla’s husband HRH Prince Charles, broke into a triple chorus of “hip, hip, hurrah!”

It was a lovely service in Southampton to launch the 90,000-ton Queen Victoria, full of pomp, circumstance, and all things British.

Stay tuned for more updates…