Duchess to name Cunard’s Victoria

It is the first time the duchess will have performed such a high profile public engagement and which, without doubt, now confirms her position at the very heart of the Royal Family.

Accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the 60-year-old duchess, pictured right, will become the newest addition to the exclusive royal club, which counts the Queen, the Princess Royal and the late Diana, Princess of Wales among its members, who have all named liners and cruise ships in Southampton.

It is certain that the go-ahead for Camilla to accept Cunard's special invitation, to become the liner's godmother, would have only been given after consultations at the highest level within Buckingham Palace.

To be invited to perform the traditional ceremony and saying the famous words: "I name this ship" before sending a bottle crashing against the ship's hull has always been regarded as a great honour, especially if the ship bears such a regal name as Queen Victoria.

When the duchess names the liner on Monday, December 10 it will not be the first time she has visited Southampton. In May, 2005, a month after her marriage, she undertook her first solo engagement by visiting the city's General Hospital.

Carol Marlow, Cunard Line's president said: "This naming will be a milestone in both Cunard and British maritime history, and will be a major event of worldwide interest, with more than 2,000 VIP guests from around the globe in attendance at the prestigious ceremony.

"In addition, this particular ceremony will mark the beginning of a new era, as it will be the first time in our 168-year history that we will have three Cunard Queens in service at the same time.'' However, this will end on Tuesday, November 11, next year, when QE2 leaves Southampton for the final time to become a floating hotel in Dubai.

Queen Victoria, now undergoing sea trials before being accepted by Cunard, is at 90,000 tons, the second largest liner the company has ever built.