A Royal Visit

We were honoured to welcome back Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Bristol Dockyards on Monday 20th July. As Royal Patron of the charity, The Princess Royal had a tour of the new SS Great Britain Experience Museum before unveiling an engraved plaque to mark the official opening.

The Princess Royal was accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, along with members of the Board and civic guests including the Lord-Lieutenant, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, and the High Sheriff.

The Princess Royal's visit marked the culmination of months and years of hard work by staff and volunteers across the organisation. The Princess Royal and Sir Tim took the time to meet many of the individuals who have made this project possible: staff, volunteers, community researchers, and supporters - including Philip Nicholas Charitable Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund - without whom the museum would not be possible.

The tour also featured a re-enactment of the ship's launch by children of Badock's Wood Academy. In true Bristol Dockyards fashion, the event was commemorated with the smashing of a bottle - exactly as The Princess Royal's great-great-great grandfather, Prince Albert, did at the ship's launch 183 years ago.