LUXE Serendipity magazine

The Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh has created a new Royal Tea and enhanced guided group tour experience to mark the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth in 2026. 

To be served on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 February until 31 March, ‘Royal Tea on Britannia’ will be the crowning glory of the newly blended guided tours, which will reveal unique stories and fond anecdotes about Queen Elizabeth II’s life on board the ship. 

Visitors will board Britannia via the Royal Brow, an entrance previously reserved for the Royal Family and go behind the ropes of the last British Royal Yacht in the world. 

An expert guide will escort groups into the State Apartments and State Dining Room, which once hosted presidents and prime ministers. 

A family home with a comfortable, country home feel, visitors will also discover why Britannia was the one place Queen Elizabeth II could truly relax. 

In the Royal Deck Tearoom, where the Royal Family used to relax, play games and entertain, visitors will have the opportunity to indulge in sweet and savoury treats featuring some of Queen Elizabeth II’s favourites, including Coronation chicken, oak-smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches. Victoria sponge and Valrhona chocolate biscuit sandwich is also part of the ‘Royal Tea on Britannia’ menu.

Dining will be communal and accompanied by a tour guide to answer any questions about The Royal Yacht Britannia.

After tea, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the rest of Britannia at their leisure with an audio guide.

The new ‘Royal Tea on Britannia’ experience is priced at £75 per person, with up to 24 tickets available per tour. For more information and to book tickets, go to www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/visit/royal-tea-on-britannia

Situated on the second floor of Ocean Terminal in Leith, the newly developed Britannia visitor experience has been designed to enhance the sense of arrival for the approx. 350,000 annual visitors to Queen Elizabeth II’s former Royal Yacht.

Highlights of the new exhibition include:

• The No.1 uniform of Prince Philip, previously gifted to The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust by Queen Elizabeth II
• The original ornate Binnacle (compass) embellished with gold leaf
• A cascade of historical photographs storytelling life on board the Royal Yacht
• Plus, an attention-grabbing 11-foot LEGO Britannia model with its very own LEGO Yachtsmen

The Royal Yacht Britannia is easily accessible from the Ocean Terminal tram stop, which offers a direct and easy transport link between Leith, Edinburgh city centre and Edinburgh Airport.  Open 7 days a week, 9.30am-6pm, with last admission at 4pm. For more information on The Royal Yacht Britannia, go to www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

The Royal Yacht Britannia 

• The Royal Yacht Britannia was home to Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family for over 40 years, sailing over a million nautical miles around the world, calling at more than 600 ports in 128 countries. Situated in Edinburgh’s historic Port of Leith, Britannia is now a five-star visitor attraction, as well as an exclusive-use evening events venue. Visitors enjoy a fascinating insight into Queen Elizabeth II’s former floating palace, and the lives of those who lived and worked on board.
• Britannia attracts around 350,000 people from across the world every year and is proud to have one of the world’s most translated audio tours with over 30 languages, English Braille script, and British and American Sign Language tour tablets.
• One of the UK’s most accessible tourism destinations, allowing each and every visitor access to explore all five decks of the ship, plus the Royal Deck Tearoom with stunning waterfront views, and Shop within Ocean Terminal.
• Britannia is owned by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust (Registered Charity No. SC028070). The Trust’s responsibility is to maintain and preserve Britannia in keeping with her former role and to display her to the public as a key part of British maritime history. The Trust is a wholly self-funding, not-for-profit, charitable organisation. Britannia is the official headquarters of the Association of Royal Yachtsmen.