After a day’s delay – presumably out of respect to the late former British Prime Minister and Princess Cruises Godmother, Margaret Thatcher – the cruise line has announced that Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge (pictured inset above), will serve as the godmother to the new Royal Princess.
The pinnacle of the upcoming vessel’s week-long inaugural celebration will be the christening ceremony on June 13, 2013, where Royal Princess will be officially named by the Duchess. This honorary selection appropriately follows the heritage of Princess Diana having served as the original Royal Princess‘ godmother.
“It is a great honor for Princess Cruises that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has accepted our invitation to become the Godmother to Royal Princess,” said Alan Buckelew, the line’s president and CEO. “We are delighted that the Duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company’s British heritage and our commitment to the country.”
The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess will first arrive in Southampton, where the ceremony will take place, to participate in customer and travel agent previews. The festivities will include British maritime traditions such as the blessing and a performance by the Royal Marines Band and the pipers of the Irish Guards.
Her maiden voyage and public introduction of shipboard features such as the SeaWalk – a cantilevered breezeway suspended high off the side of the ship – are set to follow on June 16th.
To explore Popular Cruising’s previous reports regarding the Royal Princess, click here, and for more information about the new ship from Princess Cruises, visit the cruise line’s website here.
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HEADER IMAGES SOURCE: PRINCESS CRUISES