11-12-2007This Month 11th Dec 14:00
The Duchess of Cornwall failed to break the champagne bottle on the side of the ship, while naming the Queen Victoria yesterday (10.12.07).
Camilla, wife of Prince Charles, pushed the button to send the bottle swinging against Cunard's new luxury liner at the official naming ceremony in Southampton, but it bounced off the boat and dangled unbroken.
Superstitious seamen believe this is a bad omen and will leave the vessel cursed.
Moored in the same dock yesterday was the Aurora, officially named by Princess Anne in 2000. Then the champagne bottle also failed to smash at the ceremony and the cruise ship broke down on its maiden voyage. In 2003 The Aurora's passengers were all stuck down by a virus, and in 2005, its engines failed.
But a spokesman for Cunard, dismissed superstition, saying: "We were delighted with the ceremony. Sometimes champagne bottles don't break."
Before the ceremony Camilla and her husband Prince Charles toured the new luxury liner, which has an 830-seat theatre, seven restaurants, three swimming pools, a 6,000-book library and a casino.
During the tour the duchess pressed the button to sound the ships whistle.
The Duchess of Cornwall
Your Comments:
Be the first to comment!