The P and O liner 'Medina' at Portsmouth in 1911, fitted as a royal yacht RMG PV2097

The P & O liner 'Medina' at Portsmouth in 1911, fitted as a royal yacht

The P & O liner 'Medina' (1911) is here shown alongside the South Railway Jetty at Portsmouth fitted out as a royal yacht to take HM King George V and Queen Mary to India, for the Delhi Durbar. The ship was launched on 14 March 1911 and completed on 3 September. Before entering commercial service she was requisitioned for use as royal yacht for the state visit to India, and was painted white with royal blue and gold hull bands, and buff funnels and masts. She was also given an additional mast abaft the bridge and partially refurnished, and commissioned at Portsmouth on 10 October 1911 as HMS 'Medina' under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Colin Keppel, whose flag is shown flying here. She sailed from Portsmouth with the royal party on 11 November 1911, escorted by the armoured cruisers 'Argyll', 'Cochrane', 'Defence' and 'Natal'. On arrival back in the UK on 5 February 1912, the ship was decommissioned and refitted for commercial service. Her maiden voyage to Australia commenced on 28 June 1912 and she lasted until 28 April 1917, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB 31. See also Wyllie drawings PAE2105, PAF1180, PAF1203 and PAF1204.

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Royal Museums Greenwich

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