NOTE THE OLD ROYAL YACHT STILL ON THE BOOKS.

H.M. THE KING, GEORGE VI DIED IN FEBRUARY 1952 AND H.M. THE QUEEN, ELIZABETH II CAME TO THE THRONE.  HOWEVER, HER CORONATION WAS NOT UNTIL JUNE 1953.  AT THIS TIME THERE WAS A MAJOR FLEET REVIEW AT SPITHEAD WHICH OR COURSE, REQUIRED A ROYAL YACHT IN WHICH HER MAJESTY WOULD REVIEW THE FLEET.

THE NEW PURPOSELY BUILT ROYAL YACHT, BRITANNIA, HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED IN 1952 NOR WAS SHE READY FOR HER DUTIES UNTIL LATE IN 1953.

IT FELL TO HMS SURPRISE, A LOCH CLASS FRIGATE CONVERTED TO A DESPATCH BOAT, TO ACT AS THE ROYAL YACHT AT THIS EVENT.

CLEARLY, THE AUTHORITIES DIDN'T WANT TO OMIT ONE ROYAL YACHT UNTIL HER REPLACEMENT HAD BEEN ENTERED INTO THE BOOK OF CALLSIGNS, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE, BRITANNIA ENTERED WITH HER OWN CALLSIGN WHICH WAS " GQXC"