Royal Travel
Modes of travel and travelling accessories used by monarchs past and present
Set of coffee cups and saucers
1952RCIN 58260
While sailing on the Royal Yacht Britannia, Her Majesty The Queen maintained a careful routine of official duties, meals and entertainment. Each evening, after drinks at 7:30pm, family dinner would be served on green and white Spode china decorated with the Royal Cipher. Afterwards, coffee and mints were taken in the Drawing Room. These coffee cups and saucers were specially made for Britannia by WT Copeland and Sons, who had a long history of supplying the British royal family with bone china and earthenware. The cups are inscribed 'THE ROYAL YACHT' and the saucers feature the Garter motto with crowned 'EIIR' ciphers. Special porcelain for the Royal Yacht had similarly been made for The Queen's grandfather, King George V, with a 'GVR' cipher. After coffee, The Queen and her family often enjoyed a film in the private cinema set up in Britannia's Dining Room.