Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited HM Naval Base Portsmouth on Sunday 26 July to meet the international sailing teams taking part in the World Series Races to determine the contender for the America’s Cup Trophy in 2017.
The Duke and Duchess were met in Portsmouth by Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire Nigel Atkinson in the Emirates Team New Zealand base within HM Naval Base Portsmouth and introduced to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander Admiral Sir Philip Jones, Naval Base Commander Commodore Jeremy Rigby and Captain of the Base Colonel Mike Tanner RM.
The Royal couple thanked the Senior Naval Officers for the Royal Navy’s support to the America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth.
Captain of the Base, Colonel Mike Tanner took this opportunity to present the Royal couple with wooden handcrafted models of the two new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales: bath time play things for the young HRH Prince George and HRH Princess Charlotte.
The Navy’s carriers will be homeported in Portsmouth when they come into active service within the next few years. The Naval base is busy preparing the dockyard facilities to be ready for the arrival of the first of the class HMS Queen Elizabeth next year.
In the line-up greeting the Royal visitors were Sir Keith Mills the Chairman of Team Origin, Event Organisers of the America’s Cup and Commercial Commissioner Dr Harvey Schiller, Leader of Portsmouth City Council Donna Jones, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Councillor, Frank Jonas.
Despite the heavy rain and leaden skies, the Royal visitors continued their tour of the International Team bases meeting the skippers, technical staff and crew of the six competing teams from France, New Zealand, Sweden, Japan and the USA, followed by the British home team Landrover BAR led Sir Ben Ainslie.
They toured the team’s new home to see the purpose-built facilities, learn about the team’s investment in developing maritime and design skills through working with local colleges as well as meet staff, their families and some of the team’s apprentices.
Their Royal Highnesses will visit the ‘1851 Trust’s interactive zone’ where they will be introduced to young people who have taken their first sailing steps with the Trust.
They will also find out more on the ‘sailing taster’ project run by the charity in conjunction with the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation (ASSF) – up to a 1,000 local young people aged 9-14 are being given the opportunity to try sailing during the five week summer project, operating from Portsmouth Sailing Club.