Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will name the new Cunard liner Queen Victoria at the Dec. 10 inauguration ceremony in Southampton, England. Accompanying her will be Prince Charles. Queen Victoria will be in Southampton for four days, during which time over 7,000 guests from around the world will visit the ship. She will depart on her Maiden Voyage on Tuesday December 11, 2007. In addition, this particular ceremony will mark the beginning of a new era for Cunard, as it will be the first time in the line’s 168-year history that they will have three Cunard Queens in service at the same time.

Every one of Cunard’s ocean liners has been named by a member of the Royal Family:

• Her Majesty The Queen named QM2 in 2004, the QE2 in 1967, but as Princess Elizabeth in 1947, she performed the ceremony for Caronia, “The Green Goddess.”
• The late Queen Mother, as Queen Elizabeth, launched Queen Elizabeth in 1938.
• Queen Mary, wife of King George V, launched Queen Mary in 1934 – and in so doing became the first monarch ever to launch a merchant ship.