The Temporary Royal Yacht

It was a shame when that the Royal Yacht, HMY Britannia, was decommissioned about ten years ago. Many citizens, including myself, were disappointed, not to say saddened, that a perfectly good royal yacht was to be, in a sense, scrapped (although she's now a tourist attraction). I'm one of those who feels strongly that our Royal Family ought to have the finest royal yacht, royal flight, royal train, royal transport that our money can provide, no matter what the cost. At the time, a group of patriotic businessmen offered to fund a replacement but this idea was rejected. Consequently, we have no royal yacht; not an official one, at least.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be on an official eleven day Tour of the Caribbean.

Sir Donald Gosling has come to the rescue by means of his luxury ship yacht, Leander. Leander is 245" long with about twenty-two crew and two chefs. It is fitted in the English country house style. It's more modest in size than Britannia, which was three times the weight. No matter, it's suitable enough. Seemingly it is more cost-effective and kinder to the environment than travelling around the Caribbean by aircraft on an official tour. I won't argue with that.

HM Opposition should be drawing up plans for the next royal yacht now, in order that it can be commissioned when they get into office. I hope you are listening, Mr Cameron!