SHE will be the pride of Southampton, a ship, with a name fit for a queen, which will have more than a touch of royalty about her regal decks when she arrives in her home port later this year.
One of the major features of the Queen Elizabeth will be a stunning art deco feature, created by the Queen’s nephew, Lord Linley, which will be the centrepiece of the ship’s Grand Lobby.
Queen Elizabeth, which will be the third ship in Cunard’s Southampton based fleet, will enter Southampton Water in October before a traditional dockside naming ceremony.
Cunard is gradually unveiling details of the ship’s unique design which aims to recreate the feel of the first Queen Elizabeth which entered service, shrouded in secrecy, as a troopship in 1940.
Yesterday David Linley, renowned for producing fine furniture and marquetry, revealed that the artwork will show the port bow of the original Queen Elizabeth ploughing through the Atlantic waves.
Using the technique of marquetry inlay, nine different types of wood veneer will be included in the panel which will span more than two decks.
Work is currently under way and the completed panel will be shipped during the summer to the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, where it will be installed over four days.
Lord Linley said: “This is the first seagoing work we have done on this scale – it is certainly the largest screen we have ever made – but it was a commission I was delighted to accept. “ The latest Cunarder will depart on her maiden voyage, a 14-night cruise to Portugal, Spain, the Canary Islands and Madeira, on October 12.
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