Really, we're talking about the Royal Yacht Britannia, in Her Majesty's service from 1954 until 1997. She was the 83rd such vessel since King Charles II acceded to the throne in 1660, and is the second royal yacht to bear the name, the first being the racing cutter built for the Prince of Wales in 1893. During her 43-year career, the yacht traveled more than a million nautical miles around the globe. Now retired from royal service, Britannia is open to visitors and is permanently berthed at Ocean Terminal, Leith, in Edinburgh.
It's a trip through history, since the interior of the yacht was maintained in original condition through the years, and not really modernized. For example, look at the Queen's phone:
And Her Majesty's bedroom:
The dining room was set and ready for service (there is a restaurant onboard now, so the kitchen's good to go):
Our last stop on the "must see" tour was the Edinburgh Castle, up on the hill at the top of the High Street (which, if you go downhill, leads back to Holyrood House). There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison. As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite Rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1100-year-old history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world".
One thing is for certain. It's got a commanding view of the city.
The cannon are still there, just in case.
Detail from around the grounds, including a very royal downspout:
Inside the Royal rooms:
And the great hall is ready for the garrisons:
There are lots of souvenir shops on the High Street where one can get hold of kilts, whiskey, bagpipes, tartans, and all things Scottish. We wound up with two tweed hats for Gordon and a thistle-themed necklace and earrings for Pati. Overall, visiting Edinburgh was a very happy accident! Good news is, we'll be back next year. Twice. More on that later...
