Queen arrives in Stornoway for Hebridean voyage 23/7/10
The Queen is in Stornoway this afternoon as she prepares to commence on a two week cruise around the Western Isles.
Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, accompanied the Queen as she landed at Stornoway airport at lunchtime.
The Royal party drove to Stornoway harbour to join the waiting MV Hebridean Princess.
Prince Philip was not spotted amongst the royals dropped off at the ship’s gangway. He is expected to join the group during the voyage.
Scores of ferry passengers crowded onto the starboard deck of the Cal Mac ferry MV Isle of Lewis which was tied up on the opposite berth on No. 3 pier. The ferry skipper delayed departure slightly to allow travellers to enjoy the surprise visitors and they were delighted as the Queen waved to them when she arrived.
She shook hands with Capt Micheal Hepburn of the Hebridean Princess on the quayside before boarding the smaller luxury cruise liner.
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The Queen’s ship is expected to depart this afternoon. If the weather remains as sunny as it was on Friday then the ship will anchor in sealochs and secluded bays to allow the royal to go ashore in her liberty boat to enjoy picnics. The sandy stretches of Berneray and machair plains of North Uist are favourite royal spots.
The vessel has been chartered for the next fortnight at a reported cost of around £200,000.
The price of the charter has soared since four years ago when the Queen first hired the ship for her 80th birthday cruise. Since then the ship’s large fuel bill has been badly hit by significant rises in marine gas on top on inflation.
In January, holidaymakers who had booked cabins on the cruise liner for this fortnight had their holidays onboard the MV Hebridean Princess cancelled as a result of royal voyage.
The Aberdeen-
She was rebuilt in 1989 and converted into a luxury liner cruising around the Western Isles and Norway.