THE QUEEN has said farewell to the most famous ocean liner in the world – the QE2.
It was the last time the Queen will see the luxury liner, which she launched in 1967, before it leaves the Cunard fleet to become a floating hotel at the end of the year.
Baroness Thatcher, who requisitioned the QE2 as a troop ship in 1982 for the Falklands war, was among 300 VIP guests at a lunch onboard the ship in Southampton.
The frail former Prime Minister had a brief conversation with the Queen as she toured the 70,000-ton ship.
Cunard president Carol Marlow said: “We are especially honoured that Her Majesty spent the 55th anniversary of her Coronation visiting the QE2 for the last time.”
The Queen met nine former captains of the QE2, which has sailed more miles than any other ship in history.
She was escorted around the liner by its current master, Captain Ian McNaught.
Her signature was the first in the ship’s visitor’s book, and yesterday became the last.
On the ship’s bridge she signalled the QE2’s most junior officer, Cadet Jennifer Haynes, to sound the ship’s whistle to salute Cunard’s current flagship Queen Mary 2.
The deafening blast made her jump – maybe she had forgotten that it can be heard for ten miles around.
Before lunch she unveiled a painting of the QE2 passing through Southampton waters, by Isle of Wight artist Robert Lloyd, which will be presented to the city of Southampton as a memento of the ship.
Ms Marlow said: “The QE2 has been a symbol of all that is best about Britain. It is the most famous ship afloat.”
The lunch marked the start of a six-month farewell season for the QE2, before she sails to Dubai in November.
