Queen Elizabeth II launches Queen Mary 2.

It was to be a truly memorable day that is still widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of its kind, with performances by a host of special guests. The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines (Portsmouth), the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and soprano Lesley Garrett all performed under the direction of one of Britain’s most eminent conductors, Anthony Inglis.

The unveiling of the ship itself has been described as one of the most dramatic reveals. A gray silk curtain dropped behind the stage while British soul singer Heather Small performed an extended version of her well-loved anthem, ‘Proud’.

This momentous day was indeed the first time during her long reign that Her Majesty had performed an official duty in January, and this was not the only precedent broken. The Queen did something that had never before occurred at the launch of a Cunard ship; she broke a bottle of Champagne across the bow.

Because of the decades old rivalry between Cunard and The French Line, historically Cunard had always refused to use French Champagne at our ship launches. Before the naming of Queen Mary 2, The Queen, her mother, her grandmother, and the dozens of Sponsors of earlier ships had all used a bottle of Empire wine for this iconic part of the ceremony.

Queen Mary 2 was the first of our ships to be blessed with Champagne before sailing and, fittingly, featured the first ever Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar at sea.

Our relationship with the Royal family has long been a source of pride here at Cunard, and to share these new ‘firsts’ with Her Majesty was an honor.