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Queen Mary 2 profile
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Photo feature: Queen Mary 2 Birthday Celebration
Interview: Cunard CEO David Dingle, Dr. Stephen Payne, and Commodore Ronald Warwick on the QM2 Celebration 

QM2 10th Anniversary photo feature:

QM2'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

by

Richard H. Wagner

Part One: Morning Celebration
Part Two: Afternoon Celebration
Part Three: Evening Celebration
Part Four: Subsequent Celebrations
Picture
The evening festivities began at dusk when Queen Victoria left the City Terminal and took up a position behind Queen Elizabeth at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal.  Whereas the two ships had been bow-to-bow in the morning, they were now bow-to-stern approximately 30 meters apart. 
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth cruise ships
 
Queen Victoria cruise ship
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth cruise ships
Band of the Welsh Guards
As the ships made ready to depart, the Guards appeared on the piers to give the ships a musical send off.  The Band of the Welsh Guards played for the Queen Mary 2 and the Band of the Scots Guards played for Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. 

Band of the Welsh Guards
PictureBoats of spectators earlier in the evening.
Shortly before 10 p.m., QM2 sounded her horns to warn the boats of spectators that she was backing out of the slip.  Passing astern of Queen Victoria, QM2 turned so that her bow was facing down Southampton Water towards the sea.  Here, she stopped so that the other Cunarders were just forward of her on the port side. 

Queen Victoria cruise ship
Picture
Cunard's Queen Elizabeth
With the guest of honor  in position, the fireworks display began.  It was timed to be ten minutes long - - one minute for each year that Queen Mary 2 has been in service. 
Picture
Fireworks at Queen Mary 2 celebration
Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria of Cunard Line
Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria of Cunard Line
Following the fireworks display, Queen Mary 2 sailed past her fleetmates as the ships sounded salutes on their horns. Queen Elizabeth and then Queen Victoria cast off and followed the flagship down Southampton Water and eventually out to sea where they went their separate ways.  

Cunard's Queen Elizabth followed by Cunard's Queen Victoria
This photo feature continues with a look at the celebrations during QM2's subsequent transatlantic crossing.
Click here to continue. 
Click here for the Queen Mary 2 home page
Click here for our in-depth photo tour of QM2
Click here for an interview with Cunard's CEO, Queen Mary 2's first commander and the designer of QM2  on the significance of QM2's 10th anniversary.

Cruise ship photo feature - - Cunard Line - -  Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria  - - QM2's Birthday Celebration - page three
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