<![CDATA[Six years ago, Prince William became the patron of the multi-million pound appeal to conserve Her Majesty's Ship Alliance. Now, he is going back to see the result of the efforts to restore the British submarine.
In one of his first official engagements following the Royal Tour, the Duke of Cambridge travelled to Gosport, Hampshire on Monday. He attended a service of rededication for HMS Alliance, before touring the craft and accepting a tot of rum.
NEWS: Prince William is given a traditional tot of rum as he leaves #HMSAlliance @RNSubMuseum in #Gosport. pic.twitter.com/u7OqJ1Etgq
— Wave 105 (@wave105radio) May 12, 2014
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The director of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Chris Munns, said “We are delighted to be able to show him the finished project when he comes to visit the museum. We are going to rededicate the submarine, which is something you do to operational submarines when they have come out of a refit. It will be a pleasure to welcome Prince William to it.”
HMS Alliance is the last surviving British submarine from the era of the Second World War. Alliance was designed for battle in the Far East, and launched in July 1945, but the war was over before she could be put into action. Since 1947, Alliance had been a part of the Royal Navy, and spent more than 28 years in service. She went on display in 1981 as a museum ship, but soon began to rust and was in need of urgent restoration.
In 2008, Prince William became the royal patron of the HMS Alliance appeal, to raise funds for her restoration and maintenance. The appeal was launched in October 2007, and lasted for two years. At the time, William paid a visit to the site of the submarine, opening a memorial dedicated to those men who lost their lives defending the country in submarines.
The Prince, who is the Commodore-in-Chief, Submarines, said that he was “delighted and honoured” to be a part of the appeal. He also added: “It is of great importance that such heritage is safeguarded to help future generations to understand the past heroism and sacrifice of British submariners.”
NEWS: The Duke of Cambridge attends the rededication ceremony for #HMSAlliance @RNSubMuseum. pic.twitter.com/IVjPBEjfUV
— Wave 105 (@wave105radio) May 12, 2014
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Over £7,00,000 were raised, and Alliance was reopened to the public last month after extensive conservation. The submrine is currently the centrepiece of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.
Photo credit: Government House, New Zealand]]>
Wish they’d saved the HMS Warspite which served both WW I and WW II.