Princess Anne Announces New Maritime Ships Named After Herself and Prince Philip

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Princess Anne made two notable announcements this past weekend at one of Britain’s most celebrated annual sailing events. Speaking in her capacity as Master of Trinity House, the maritime organization responsible for lighthouse and navigation safety around the English and Welsh coastlines, she revealed the names of two new ships currently being built: one named after herself and one in memory of her late father, Prince Philip.

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Princess Anne and Prince Philip at a dinner for Trinity House in London in 2011.

The first vessel, due to be delivered in 2029, will be named THV Princess Royal. The second, arriving the same year, will be named THV Prince Philip. They will replace two older ships nearing the end of their operational lives.

Princess Anne succeeded her father in the role as Master of Trinity House, rather than royal patron, having been elected to the position, in 2011. Prince Philip had been the longest-serving Master in the organization’s history, having held the position since 1969. Trinity House’s Deputy Master, Rear Admiral Iain Lower, said in a statement that naming the second vessel after Prince Philip honors “his long and distinguished association with Trinity House.”

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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, in his role as Master of Trinity House, on the THV Galatea in 2007.

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Prince Philip and Princess Anne, stand on board the royal racing yacht ’Bloodhound’ during the Cowes Week sailing regatta, 1964.

The reception took place during the 200th anniversary of Cowes Week, the historic sailing regatta held annually off the Isle of Wight. The event holds personal significance for Princess Anne, who spent time aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia during Cowes Week as a child while her father raced on the Solent. She later competed herself, racing aboard a Farr 65 in 2014 and helming the yacht across the finish line. Today, she serves as Admiral of the Royal Yacht Squadron and patron of two sailing organizations connected to the event.

Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.