Cunard Line’s Queen Anne was named on June 3, 2024, in Liverpool by not one godmother or godfather but rather the cruise line chose the entire city of Liverpool to be the ship’s godparent.
Considered the spiritual home and birthplace of Cunard Line, Liverpool was the company’s headquarters for 128 years. The people of Liverpool have a special bond with the cruise line which is evidenced each time a Cunard ship arrives. On two separate occasions, Liverpool has seen two of the largest crowds gather for a maritime event. The first was in 1990 when the city hosted a million guests for Queen Elizabeth 2 and over a million guests for the Three Queens Salute in 2015.
Because of this bond, Cunard Line chose five women, who are all proud Liverpudlians, to represent the city of Liverpool and officially name Queen Anne. As the women were announced and took their places on stage, Cunard President Katie McAlister said, “Liverpool was the birthplace of Cunard. There is nowhere in the world where Cunard is more loved than Liverpool and today Queen Anne represents and strengthens both our past, but also our enduring bond. It’s for that reason we asked the City of Liverpool to be the godparent of Queen Anne so please accept this as a dedication to each and every one of you in this city.”
The iconic women–Spice Girl and author Melanie C, broadcaster and community leader Ngunan Adamu, local restaurant entrepreneur Natalie Haywood, Liverpool music and cultural legend Jayne Casey, and British Olympic heptathlon athlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson–were joined by thousands of guests as they pulled the lever which released the official bottle of champagne which smashed against the side of Queen Anne, christening the 249th Cunard Line ship.
The festivities, hosted by Matt and Emma Willis, were opened by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and included performances from some of Liverpool’s finest talent including operatic superstar Andrea Bocelli who performed “Time to Say Goodbye” to close the ceremony.