article_snippet: Surprisingly, Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday, The Queen has only named four civilian ships previously (the QE2 in 1967, Oriana in 1995, Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010, with the Britannia as the fifth).
article_snippet: First of the liners launched by The Queen was Cunard's QE2, which was christened in 1967 and made The Queen maiden voyage in 1969.
article_snippet: Other vessels launched by The Queen include the Oriana in 1995, the Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and Queen Elizabeth, another Cunard ship, in 2010.
article_snippet: In 2007, the Duchess of Cornwall launched Cunard's Queen Victoria at Southampton, returning five years later to blow out the candles on the Duchess of Cornwall fifth birthday in 2013.
article_snippet: Other vessels with royal connections include the Navy's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth II, which was launched by Princess Cruises' Royal Princess Majesty in Rosyth with a bottle of whisky last year.
article_snippet: Royal approval: the Duchess of Cornwall Cornwall sponsored Cunard's Queen Victoria, launching it in December 2007 .
highlights_snippet: The royals have also sponsored several Royal Navy ships and submarines .