Busted musician Matt Willis and his TV presenter wife Emma are to host the naming of new Cunard ship Queen Anne in Liverpool on June 3 – but who will conduct the christening is yet to be revealed.
The celebrity pair will be at the centre of the star-studded ceremony in the city which is the spiritual home of the historic cruise line.
Crowds are expected to line the Mersey waterfront to see Queen Anne arrive shortly after sunrise to a special salute during a 14-night ‘lap of honour’ voyage around the British Isles.
But who will send the champagne smashing against the hull remains a mystery. The late Queen, Elizabeth II, christened Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, while the present Queen, Camilla – then Duchess of Cornwall – memorably took two attempts to smash the champagne on Queen Victoria.
Cunard would only tell me there was ‘no update on the godparent’ for the fleet’s fourth ship, meaning the special guest could be male or female.
The line’s pioneering transatlantic service – and passenger shipping itself – was launched in 1840 in Liverpool, where the Cunard Building forms the centrepiece of the Three Graces.
The British Isles Festival Voyage will leave Southampton on May 24 with maiden calls to Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Invergordon, Greenock, Belfast and Liverpool where passengers will have an exclusive opportunity to join the naming celebrations before a spectacular, late evening departure for Cobh followed by her return to Southampton.
The christening will be the highlight of a day of celebrations for Queen Anne, currently nearing completion in Italy.
The event in Liverpool is expected to draw tens of thousands to vantage points alongside the river at Pier Head, between New Brighton and Seacombe on Wirral and on beaches at Formby and Crosby in Sefton. A live global broadcast will also cover the event.
Cunard ships have previously attracted more than a million spectators to the banks of the Mersey, first for the maiden call of QE2 in July 1990, and in 2015 for the Three Queens ‘royal rendezvous’ in front of the Cunard Building to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the line.
Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said: ‘Cunard has an incredible bond with the city of Liverpool. It is where our founder Sir Samuel Cunard began his transatlantic line in 1840, so what better place to officially name our new ship than somewhere that holds so many special memories. Liverpool is known the world over as Cunard’s spiritual home and we are all so excited for the city to see Queen Anne up close on her maiden call.’
Matt and Emma Willis added: ‘We’re delighted to be part of such a fantastic occasion and can’t wait to join everyone in Liverpool for an exciting and action-packed day, full of surprises and celebrations.’
Further details of timings, activities and spectator information for the event will be published in due course.
I will be on board Queen Anne for a special overnight visit before her maiden voyage. Follow me on X (Twitter) and Instagram – both @shipmonk – for pictures and updates
See also:
Chef Jolly keeps diners happy on Queen Anne
The Queen’s role in nearly 90 years of cruise history
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