The Queen Elizabeth 2 was a legendary British ship that operated from 1969 to 2008 originally designed to carry almost 2,000 passengers from Southampton to New York. The ship was supposed to be the successor of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, named after Queen Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Bosses invited Queen Elizabeth II, who made headlines recently after meeting with US President Donald Trump, to launch the vessel. 

However, the Monarch had other ideas.

It was usual procedure for Cunard to re-use existing name of its former ships, for example, launching the Mauretania in 1935 and again in 1938.

However, Channel 5’s “The QE2: Queen of the Seas” revealed how bosses suffered tense moments.

The narrator revealed: “As thousands packed into the yard to witness the launch, millions more were tuning in for a live TV broadcast. 

It was not the name Cunard, or anyone else was expecting

QE2: The Queen of the Seas

“Beneath the ship, carpenters began knocking out the wooden supports in preparation for the launch. 

“But before the ceremony got under way, the Queen was given a tour of the ship. 

“Months earlier, it had been agreed the ship would be named the Queen Elizabeth – after the existing liner, not the monarch. 

“What happened next did nothing to ease the atmosphere.”

The documentary then revealed the moment the Queen named the ship Queen Elizabeth II, before remarking: “It was not the name Cunard, or anyone else was expecting.”

Eric Flounders, Cunard PR Manager for the QE2 detailed how the Cunard chairman was stunned by the move.

He told the series: “When the Queen came to name the ship, she was handed a card with the name on, although she knew perfectly well what the name was.

“She waved it to one side.

“You see the face of Sir Basil Smallpiece, the Cunard chairman, slightly changes.

“It’s hard to tell if he’s in shock or just surprise.”

The QE2 served as the flagship liner until she was succeeded by the Queen Mary 2 in 2004. 

The cruise ship was retired from active Cunard service on November 27, 2008, after being acquired by the private equity arm of Dubai World.

They planned to turn the ship into a 500-room floating hotel moored at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.

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