Cunard Line's home city of Liverpool will host the christening ceremony for its newest ship, the Queen Anne.
The event will take place on Liverpool's famous Mersey waterfront on Monday, June 3, during a celebratory "circle of honor" voyage around the British Isles.
Cunard's hosts will be none other than Busted musician Matt Willis and his wife , television presenter Emma Willis . The British pop culture couple recorded this message revealing what guests can expect from the event.
Queen Anne Naming Ceremony
The Queen Anne is expected to arrive in Mersey shortly after dawn in what promises to be the most anticipated stop of the 14-night voyage.
It is being planned that its arrival will include a special greeting to the city where Cunard's transatlantic service, and passenger shipping itself, was launched in 1840, and where the Cunard Building forms the centerpiece of the Three Graces.
The 14-night British Isles Festival Voyage will depart from Southampton on May 24 with inaugural stops in Edinburgh, Invergordon, Greenock, Belfast and Liverpool, where passengers will have the opportunity to join in the christening celebrations before an overnight departure for Cobh, followed by their return to Southampton
The official naming will be the highlight of a day of celebration for the Queen Anne, currently nearing completion at the Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera, Italy.
The event in Liverpool is expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators to the riverside viewing areas at Pier Head, between New Brighton and Seacombe in Wirral, and on Formby and Crosby beaches in Sefton. A live global broadcast will ensure that the world's attention is once again focused on a Cunard event in Liverpool.
Cunard ships have previously attracted more than a million spectators to the banks of the Mersey, first for the maiden call of the famous 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 most famous name in shipping.
British Isles Festival Voyage
Guests on the trip will have the opportunity to be part of a unique event in Cunard history that will include a series of surprise celebrations at Liverpool's famous Pier Head, with the iconic original Cunard building at its center.
A cast of artists will offer live performances around the official appointment, when Queen Anne makes her first stop at Cunard's spiritual home.
Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: “Cunard has an incredible connection with the city of Liverpool. It’s where our founder, Sir Samuel Cunard, started his transatlantic route in 1840, so what better place to officially christen our new ship than a place that holds so many special memories?”
“The Queen Anne is the next in a long line of ships from our brand and will be full of breathtaking moments at every turn, embodying our core values of luxury, sophistication, and glamour. Liverpool is known worldwide as the spiritual home of Cunard, and we are thrilled that the city will get a close look at the Queen Anne on its maiden call.”“.
Matt and Emma Willis added: “We are thrilled 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. The Mersey waterfront will come alive on June 3rd with a spectacular show by world-renowned performers. It’s going to be a day to remember, and we can’t wait to welcome the fourth Queen to Cunard’s iconic fleet.”
Councillor Liam Robinson, Chairman of Liverpool City Council, said: “It is a great honor for Liverpool to have been chosen to officially christen the Queen Anne. The city and Cunard share a rich history; we are the original home of the famous cruise line and we hosted the incredible Three Queens Show on the Mersey in 2015, which remains in the memories of many.”
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