A DRAMATIC spectacle was played out on a grand scale with three of the world's most famous leading ladies starring in a show only Southampton is able to stage.

This was a one-off, unmissable occasion which the city had never seen before nor will ever see again when all three Cunard "Queen'' liners gathered together in their home port for the first and last occasion yesterday.

Never before has this been possible but these days, for the first time in its long history, Cunard, a name inextricably linked to Southampton, is able to claim a fleet of three Queens in service at the the same time.

Click here to see a gallery of the three Queens

Sadly, however, this boast will be short-lived as the venerable ocean-going dame of the seas, Queen Elizabeth 2, a liner unrivalled not only in the city's pride but also in the nation's affections, is preparing to face her final curtain.

The present Cunard flagship, the vast Queen Mary 2, together with the company's newest ship, Queen Victoria, both have careers in front of them stretching far into the 21st century but later this year QE2's remarkable sea-going days will draw to a close when she finally leaves Southampton, after more than 40 years service, on Tuesday, November 11.

History in the making may be a cliché but there are no other words to describe the scene that unfolded on the city's waterfront in front of thousands of people both on shore and afloat in a flotilla of yachts, motor launches, pleasure craft and, even canoes.

It could not have been more appropriate that, on a warm spring afternoon, Southampton Water was the perfect setting as, one by one, the three Cunarders, the only liners with the name of the city emblazoned on their hulls, played their individual roles in the unforgettable event.

Last January all three Queens did meet up in New York for what was then thought to be the only time but, by a twist of fate, a late change to QE2's sailing programme resulted in Southampton's unexpected bonus of being able to witness this historic meeting.

Click here to watch the video

QE2 was already alongside berth 105 in the city's Western Docks, where she is undergoing a short maintenance period, when, before dawn, she was joined, in the docks, by QM2 and Queen Victoria.

Then, over the following hours, the port of Southampton saw the remarkable and unequalled sight of the Cunard fleet of three Queens berthed in their home port on the same day.

As the time approached for the sailpast to begin, every vantage point in Mayflower Park, Town Quay, Hythe marina and pier was packed with crowds of sightseers all anxious for a grandstand view of this unique sight.

A little after 5.30pm QM2 let go her mooring ropes and slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, moved away from her berth in the Eastern Docks and began her sedate progress up towards Queen Victoria alongside the City Cruise Terminal and QE2 at the nearby 105 berth.

As QM2, escorted by two harbourmaster launches, and Queen Victoria came together the first fanfare of deep-throated blasts from the two vessels' whistles echoed out across the city.

Then it was the turn of QE2, with her distinctive, booming whistle, to join in the salutes as QM2 came to a stop and, despite her huge size of 151,000 tons, performed a delicate pirouette before starting her return trip down past the other two ships.

Once again the air came alive with the sound of the ships' whistles and at one point as QM2 came level with Marchwood a loud siren on the shore joined in the noisy greetings.

Passengers and large numbers of crew lined the decks on each of the ships to cheer as QM2 gave a final blast before setting a course down Southampton Water, through the Solent and out into the Atlantic for a trip to New York.

Minutes later Queen Victoria began manoeuvring away from the quayside and out into the port's main channel as she began a voyage that will take her to the Canary Islands and back.

As the crowds began drifting away just QE2, veteran of the 1982 South Atlantic conflict and a hundred other headline-grabbing adventures, remained in port to complete her refit in readiness for her farewell season of cruises.

For the full story and more pictures, see today's Daily Echo