I visited the Royal Yacht Britannia, the royal family's luxurious private cruise ship known as a 'floating palace.' Take a look inside.

Talia LakritzJan 26, 2023, 20:08 IST

Practicing my royal wave.Coren Feldman

The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997.
The ship is now a museum open to the public in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Royal Yacht Britannia was the royal family's private yacht from 1953 to 1997.

The Royal Yacht Britannia.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

The Queen once said that "Britannia is the one place where I can truly relax."

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip waving onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia during an official visit to Kuwait during the tour of the Gulf in 1979.Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

The yacht is now a museum open to the public in Edinburgh, Scotland.

An escalator leading to the Royal Yacht Britannia.Coren Feldman

Before boarding the yacht, visitors walk through a museum detailing the boat's history and connection to the royal family.

Museum displays before boarding the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Then, a walkway with more photos leads to the deck of the boat.

Entering the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

I listened to the audio tour of the ship on my phone by scanning a QR code.

Aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia.Coren Feldman

The first stop was the bridge, the main control point of the yacht.

The bridge of the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Outside, the flag deck is the highest point on the ship.

The flag deck of the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The admiral's cabin and suite is the most spacious on the ship, aside from the royal apartments.

The admiral's cabin and suite on the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The royal family often sunbathed, played deck hockey, or swam in a collapsible swimming pool on the Veranda Deck.

The largest deck on the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Overlooking the Veranda Deck, the Sun Lounge was one of the Queen's favorite rooms on the ship.

The sun deck.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The Queen's bedroom on the Royal Yacht Britannia featured bed linens that once belonged to Queen Victoria.

The Queen's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip had separate bedrooms connected by an adjoining door.

The Queen's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Philip's bedroom featured red linens, and he requested pillowcases without lace trim.

Prince Philip's bedroom.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Across the hall, the Honeymoon Suite was the only room onboard with a double bed.

A guest room.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The Anteroom served as a recreational space for the officers, off-limits to the rest of the crew.

The AnteroomTalia Lakritz/Insider

The royal family occasionally dined in the adjoining Wardroom.

The Wardroom.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Britannia has three galleys, which are still working kitchens today.

One of the Royal Yacht Britannia's three galleys.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The Royal Deck Tea Room offers an extensive menu of soups, sandwiches, scones, and other treats for visitors to the museum.

A dining deck on the Royal Yacht Britannia.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The state dining room is the largest room on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

The state dining room.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Just off the state dining room, the Queen's sitting room served as her office.

The Queen's office.Talia Lakritz/Insider

On the opposite side of the hall, the Duke of Edinburgh had his own sitting room.

Prince Philip's sitting room.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The large Drawing Room and connecting Anteroom could accommodate up to 250 guests.

The Royal Yacht Britannia.Coren Feldman

Petty officers and Royal Marine sergeants kicked back in their living quarters, also known as the mess.

The mess, or living quarters, of the petty officers and Royal Marine sergeants.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The crew bunks weren't as glamorous as the royal apartments.

Crew bunks.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Britannia's NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) shop sold souvenirs and sweets, as well as essentials like toothpaste.

Fudge in Britannia's sweet shop.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The ship's sick bay and operating theater still feature the original furnishings from the 1950s.

The sick bay.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Britannia's laundry room could reach temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit as it washed up to 600 shirts in one day.

The laundry room.Talia Lakritz/Insider

All of the clocks onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia are stopped at 3:01 p.m.

A clock on the Royal Yacht Britannia.Coren Feldman

The tour concludes in a gift shop full of royal souvenirs.

The gift shop.Talia Lakritz/Insider

There's even a photo-op at the end of the tour where you can practice your royal wave.