Reintroduction of the Royal Yacht Britannia for the purpose of international trade

Summary

In January 1997, the then Defence Secretary Michael Portillo announced the Government would build a new royal yacht to replace Britannia, procured by the Ministry of Defence, costing £60 million.

Following the 1997 general election, the incoming Labour Government ruled out refurbishing or replacing Britannia using public funds and a building a new royal yacht using private funding. The Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned in December 1997.

Calls for a new royal yacht to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee were mooted in 2012.

In September 2016, seventy-five backbench MPs signed a letter to the Prime Minister advocating the “recommissioning or rebuilding a new yacht” using private funding.

Debate packs are produced by the Commons Library quickly after the announcement of parliamentary business. They are inteded to provide a summary or overview of the issue being debate and identify relevant briefings and useful documents, including press and parliamentary materials. More detailed briefings can be prepared for Members on request to the Library.