Fresh plans revealed for the Royal Yacht Britannia

THE Queen's private yacht could be turned into a '˜floating embassy' to help increase trade around the world in the wake of Brexit.
RW 18-01-12 ROYAL BRITANNIA REP: CO

File dated 11/12/97 of The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen leaving the Royal Yacht Britannia for the last time in Portsmouth. The Duke reaches a personal milestone on Sunday (June 10, 2001) when he celebrates his 80th birthday. Picture to accompany PA stories ROYAL Philip. PA photos ENGPPP00120120117125322RW 18-01-12 ROYAL BRITANNIA REP: CO

File dated 11/12/97 of The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen leaving the Royal Yacht Britannia for the last time in Portsmouth. The Duke reaches a personal milestone on Sunday (June 10, 2001) when he celebrates his 80th birthday. Picture to accompany PA stories ROYAL Philip. PA photos ENGPPP00120120117125322
RW 18-01-12 ROYAL BRITANNIA REP: CO File dated 11/12/97 of The Duke of Edinburgh and The Queen leaving the Royal Yacht Britannia for the last time in Portsmouth. The Duke reaches a personal milestone on Sunday (June 10, 2001) when he celebrates his 80th birthday. Picture to accompany PA stories ROYAL Philip. PA photos ENGPPP00120120117125322

The plans for the Royal Yacht Britannia are being considered by foreign secretary Boris Johnson.

The ship, which entered service in 1954 and was decommissioned in 1997, previously hosted trade talks in the early 90s which pumped billions into the UK.

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The proposal is set to be called into parliament for debate next month, by Tory MP Jake Berry, The Sun newspaper has said.

File photo dated 22/11/1997 of the Royal Yacht Britannia sailing into Portsmouth for the last time before being decommissioned. The Duke of Edinburgh has criticised the decision to decommission vessel, which was taken out of service after 43 years in 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday May 16, 2011. Interviewed by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh to mark his 90th birthday, the Duke is asked what his feelings were when the yacht was decommissioned. He answers: "Sad." Asked if he thought it was the right thing to do, he replies: "No." See PA story ROYAL Philip. Photo credit should read: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire ENGPPP00120120117124023File photo dated 22/11/1997 of the Royal Yacht Britannia sailing into Portsmouth for the last time before being decommissioned. The Duke of Edinburgh has criticised the decision to decommission vessel, which was taken out of service after 43 years in 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday May 16, 2011. Interviewed by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh to mark his 90th birthday, the Duke is asked what his feelings were when the yacht was decommissioned. He answers: "Sad." Asked if he thought it was the right thing to do, he replies: "No." See PA story ROYAL Philip. Photo credit should read: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire ENGPPP00120120117124023
File photo dated 22/11/1997 of the Royal Yacht Britannia sailing into Portsmouth for the last time before being decommissioned. The Duke of Edinburgh has criticised the decision to decommission vessel, which was taken out of service after 43 years in 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday May 16, 2011. Interviewed by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh to mark his 90th birthday, the Duke is asked what his feelings were when the yacht was decommissioned. He answers: "Sad." Asked if he thought it was the right thing to do, he replies: "No." See PA story ROYAL Philip. Photo credit should read: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire ENGPPP00120120117124023

A source close to Mr Johnson told the paper: ‘Boris is certainly intrigued by the idea Jake has floated. Britannia is a great symbol of global Britain.’

Mr Berry added: ‘In her latter years Britannia is estimated to have brought in £3 billion of commercial trade deals between 1991 and 1995.

‘During those profitable years, she hosted business figures from across the globe for ‘sea days’ — on board trade talks.’

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Britannia had been based in Portsmouth and was decommissioned at a ceremony in the city, attended by the Royal Family.

File photo dated 22/11/1997 of the Royal Yacht Britannia sailing into Portsmouth for the last time before being decommissioned. The Duke of Edinburgh has criticised the decision to decommission vessel, which was taken out of service after 43 years in 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday May 16, 2011. Interviewed by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh to mark his 90th birthday, the Duke is asked what his feelings were when the yacht was decommissioned. He answers: "Sad." Asked if he thought it was the right thing to do, he replies: "No." See PA story ROYAL Philip. Photo credit should read: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire ENGPPP00120120117124023File photo dated 22/11/1997 of the Royal Yacht Britannia sailing into Portsmouth for the last time before being decommissioned. The Duke of Edinburgh has criticised the decision to decommission vessel, which was taken out of service after 43 years in 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday May 16, 2011. Interviewed by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh to mark his 90th birthday, the Duke is asked what his feelings were when the yacht was decommissioned. He answers: "Sad." Asked if he thought it was the right thing to do, he replies: "No." See PA story ROYAL Philip. Photo credit should read: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire ENGPPP00120120117124023
File photo dated 22/11/1997 of the Royal Yacht Britannia sailing into Portsmouth for the last time before being decommissioned. The Duke of Edinburgh has criticised the decision to decommission vessel, which was taken out of service after 43 years in 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday May 16, 2011. Interviewed by broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh to mark his 90th birthday, the Duke is asked what his feelings were when the yacht was decommissioned. He answers: "Sad." Asked if he thought it was the right thing to do, he replies: "No." See PA story ROYAL Philip. Photo credit should read: Rebecca Naden/PA Wire ENGPPP00120120117124023

Since her retirement, she has been moored in the Port of Leith in Edinburgh and has served as a tourist attraction.

The steam-propelled yacht spent 43 years in the service of the monarchy and sailed more than one million nautical miles around the world.