The Duke of Edinburgh always held boating close to his heart, and recently one of his prized vessels made a speedy sale, going for £69,000 at auction.
The red, white, and blue speedboat, sold by auction house Bonhams on 10 April, is a 1956 Albatross MkIII and was pictured in a photo on the thank you cards the Prince of Wales sent following his father’s death.
The snapshot, taken on the Isle of Wight, features an eight-year-old Prince Charles riding alongside Prince Philip as he captains the 13-foot-long boat.
Philip’s boat was sold in “good unrestored condition,” complete with the original engine and was originally estimated by Bonhams to sell for between £20,000 – £30,000.
According to Bonhams, the craft, which could reach speeds of up to 34mph, was “one of only 607 produced.”
“This really is a unique and fascinating piece of royal history,” said Tim Schofield, Head of Bonhams Motor Cars UK. “We were privileged to be presenting it at our Goodwood sale.”
The auction listing states that Philip’s boat was originally carried aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, and “in 1967, the boat was moved to the Balmoral Estate where it was used for water skiing and was later reputedly driven by the late Diana, Princess of Wales.”
The speedboat was decommissioned in 1987 after being driven for decades by the Duke and members of the Royal Family.
Boating played a massive role in Prince Philip’s life. The late Duke, who served in the Royal Navy, was an accomplished sailor and served as patron of several yachting clubs in the UK.
