Watched on by hordes of cheering spectators and Carnival Corporation management from around the world, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II broke the champagne to officially name her second Britannia vessel.
A nebuchadnezzar of Brut NV was then broken against the hull to honour the maritime tradition and to wish good luck to the ship as it enters passenger service.
Viewing wharfside was Carnival Corporation ceo Arnold Donald, Carnival UK chairman David Dingle & ceo David Noyes.
The British monarch is now the most experienced P&O Cruises World Cruising Godmother, having named fellow P&O vessel MV Oriana in Apr 1995.
HRH also named former royal yacht Britannia way back in 1953, just prior to her coronation.
Britannia has been specifically designed to be quintessentially British for a British clientele.
The vessel will begin life sailing in the Mediterranean, the Baltic region, Norwegian Fjords and the Canary Islands, before transferring to Barbados for a season operating in the Caribbean.
Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are pictured above with the team from Britannia.
