XN000022-1986-08-17 — Page 11

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THE ROYAL STATE APARTMENTS CONTA IN SOME FURNITURE FROM THE PREVIOUS ROYAL YACHT, THE 50-YEAR-OLD VICTORIA AND ALBERT, WHICH SHE REPLACED, THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH TOOK A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE INTERIOR DECORATIONS, THE CHOICE OF FURNISHINGS AND THE GENERAL FITTING OUT OF THE ROYAL YACHT.

HMY BRITANNIA IS AN INDEPENDENT COMMAND, ADMINISTERED PERSONALLY BY THE FLAG OFFICER ROYAL YACHTS. HE IS NORMALLY APPOINTED AS AN EXTRA EQUERRY TO THE QUEEN AND, AS SUCH, IS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD.

HER CREW NUMBERS 22 OFFICERS AND 254 MEN WHEN MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY ARE EMBARKED OR WHEN THE VESSEL UNDERTAKES A LONG OCEAN VOYAGE. OFFICERS ARE NORMALLY APPOINTED FOR TWO-YEAR PERIODS OF DUTY.

TWO-THIRDS OF THE RATINGS ARE PERMANENT CREW MEMBERS AND REMAIN ATTACHED TO THE SHIP FOR THE REST OF THE IR SERVICE CAREERS: THE OTHERS ARE ATTACHED TO THE YACHT FOR TWO-YEAR PERIODS ONLY. THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ROYAL NAVY, BUT RECEIVE NO SPECIAL BENEFITS IN TERMS OF PAY, ALLOWANCES OR LEAVE.

TRADITIONS OF DRESS ABOARD THE ROYAL YACHT INCLUDE THE WEARING BY SEAMEN OF NAVAL UNIFORM WITH THE JUMPER INSIDE THE TOP OF THE. TROUSERS, WHICH ARE FINISHED AT THE BACK WITH A BLACK SILK BOW. ON ALL BLUE UNIFORMS RATINGS WEAR WHITE BADGES INSTEAD OF THE RED WHICH ARE CUSTOMARY IN THE ROYAL NAVY,

SO FAR AS IS POSSIBLE ORDERS ON THE UPPER DECK ARE EXECUTED WITHOUT SPOKEN WORDS OR COMMANDS, AND BY LONG TRADITION THE CUSTOMARY NAVAL MARK OF RESPECT OF PIPING THE SIDE IS NORMALLY PAID ONLY TO THE QUEEN.