Thousands watch as Cunard's Queen Anne was officially named
Photos and video by Patrick Trollope.

ON 3 June 2024, Liverpool played host to an amazing and historic event, with thousands watching Cunard's brand new ship being officially named Queen Anne as she visited the Port City, and birth place of both Liners and the Cunard Line. This was also 1st as never before has a City become a:- 'Godparent' to a Liner.

If you are unaware, Liverpool was birthplace of Cunard, with the company�s headquarters being located within the City for 128 years. In fact Liverpool was the with its first transatlantic crossing departing 184 years ago in July 1840 and was the birth place of the Liners.

This amazing luxury Cruise Liner was on her maiden voyage when she visited the river Mersey for the event. Crowd numbers might not have been as large as when the Three Queen Salute took place in 2015, which drew the largest crowds ever to gather for a maritime event, but it still got huge attention. Also the line up of guests got huge attention. with 5 distinguished female Liverpool icons:- Spice Girl and author Melanie C, broadcaster and community leader Ngunan Adamu, local restaurant entrepreneur Natalie Haywood, Liverpool music and cultural legend Jayne Casey, and British Olympian heptathlon athlete Katarina Johnson Thomson. represented the City at the officially name ceremony of Queen Anne.

The proceedings opened with a performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, along with dancers from LIPPA, before event hosts:- Matt and Emma Willis, took to the stage to oversee the ceremony.

They where soon joined by:- Cunard's President, Katie McAlister, and Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, where they officially introduced the most beautiful ship to its spiritual home, continuing with the seafaring tradition by smashing a bottle of champagne against the 249th ship to carry the Cunard name.

Formal proceedings then conclude with a stunning performance by operatic superstar Andrea Bocelli, including his iconic song:- 'Time to Say Goodbye.'

Commenting before the event, Katie McAlister, President of Cunard said:- "Liverpool is the spiritual home of Cunard, and we are therefore delighted and feel it very fitting that the City of Liverpool is the godparent to Queen Anne. It's testament to the enduring relationship that connects Cunard and the city in which it was founded to the present day when we officially named our new ship on the Liverpool Waterfront, in front of the Cunard Building. We are equally delighted to have our 5 chosen Liverpool icons represent the city in the ceremony. All remarkable in their own right, they have inspired generations and collectively capture the essence of the city that has shaped global culture."

Before the event started Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council said:- "It�s an incredible honour for the City of Liverpool to be chosen as the Godparent of Queen Anne. This city shares a treasured bond with Cunard dating back to 1839 when we were the original home of the world famous line. The naming ceremony was a magnificent showpiece that once again cast Liverpool into the limelight, and we are so proud to be forever entwined with Queen Anne as she sails the world. We will always cherish our long standing relationship with Cunard."

Following the naming ceremony, a tradition believed to bestow good fortune upon the new vessel, a small gap then took place to get ready for the evenings entertainment. The closing acts started with 2 students from LIPPA taking to the sage with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and dancers from the Queen Anne's entertainment crew members.

Then cam the finally with both Craig Charles and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performing as fireworks light up the waterfront, for all those who has gather to watch the Queen Anne's departure from the River Mersey.

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