CUNARD'S NEW CRUISE SHIP QUEEN VICTORIA WAS NAMED TODAY BY CAMILLA DUCHESS OF CORNWALL. HRH PRINCE CHARLES WAS ALSO IN ATTENDANCE.

THE FESTIVITIES INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, THE CHOIRS OF WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL AND THE ROYAL MARINES TRUMPETERS.
ACTOR DEREK JACOBI PLAYED THE CHARACTER OF PHILEAS FOGG AS HE TALKED OF CUNARD'S HISTORY AND SOPRANO KATHERINE JENKINS SANG GYPSY DANCE FROM CARMEN AS A CURTAIN TO THE REAR OF THE STAGE OPENED TO SHOW THE BOW OF QUEEN VICTORIA IN FULL ILLUMINATION.

2000 GUESTS ATTENDED THE NAMING CEREMONY AND INCLUDED SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION, EXECUTIVES OF SHIPBUILDER FINCANTIERI PLUS THE WORLDS TOP TRAVEL AGENTS.

QUEEN VICTORIA WAS BLESSED BY THE LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER BEFORE CAMILLA WAS INVITED TO NAME HER BY THE CAPTAIN PAUL WRIGHT.

AS THE CEREMONY DREW TO A CLOSE THE 3 TENORS SANG NESSUM DORMA WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY RULE BRITANNIA AND FINALLY EVERYONE JOINED IN TO THE CHRISTMAS HYMN 'OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL'.