Buckingham Palace courtiers lobbied the government as ministers agonised over whether to replace the Royal Yacht Britannia, newly released official files reveal.
By 1993, it was apparent Britannia was reaching the end of its life but John Major’s government was yet to decide whether to commission a new vessel – at an estimated cost of £50m.
It was widely thought Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the idea of a new yacht, but the royals could not be seen trying to influence politics.
However files released by the National Archives at Kew, west London, show senior palace staff privately approached No 10 to see if the Conservative PM would stress Britannia’s “inestimable value” in a Commons statement.
The plan was scotched by the Cabinet Office, which said any such comment would be highly “prejudicial”.
The issue of the new yacht came as support for the Royal Family was at a low ebb.
There had been an angry backlash the previous year when ministers said taxpayers would foot the bill – which ran to £36m – for Windsor Castle to be restored after a fire.
In the aftermath of her “annus horribilis” – which included the separation of Prince Charles and Diana – Elizabeth II agreed she would pay taxes for the first time.
With the prime minister due to announce the move to parliament, Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes saw an opportunity.
He asked Mr Major’s principal private secretary Alex Allan if the PM would insert a passage on the importance of Britannia, as well as the royals’ dedicated aircraft and train.
He suggested the prime minister should say it was not just a question of cost “but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the Royal Family to represent us” in their public duties.
“I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia,” he added.
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However, Nicolas Bevan, leading the working group set up to consider the future of Britannia, warned the proposed remark could be “prejudicial” to any future decisions.
“Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not,” he said.
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Despite misgivings over the cost, the government announced in January 1997 that a replacement yacht would be built if they retained power in the following year’s general election.
When Labour swept to power with a landslide win, they promptly reversed the decision.
When Britannia was finally decommissioned, Queen Elizabeth II, who rarely displayed any emotion in public, was seen shedding a tear.
