A DAZZLING display of fireworks cascaded over Cunard’s three Queens last night in a spectacular end to a day of celebration marking the tenth anniversary of the liner Queen Mary 2.
Thousands of passengers lining the decks of Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and QM2, joined large crowds on the shoreline of Southampton Water to watch a sparkling show of sound and light as the Cunard fleet prepared to leave port.
Throughout the day the three Queens were a dramatic sight on the city’s waterfront after arriving one by one early in the morning.
The event included a visit and a tour of QM2 by the Duke of Edinburgh.
There was a military send-off for QM2 as she left the Ocean Terminal in the eastern docks for a seven-day trans-Atlantic crossing to New York.
The band of the Welsh Guards performed a concert in the liner’s theatre followed by a special display of marching on the quayside.
As the ten-minute firework display came to an end the Cunard flagship led Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria down Southampton Water and out into the open sea.
The fireworks were started by 10-year-old Todd Travers, below, the boy who won the Daily Echo competition to find someone with the same 'birthday' as Queen Mary 2 - 9 May.
Todd and his parents had a tour of QM2 and had supper on board - including being presented with a huge ship-shaped chocolate cake.
He later disembarked the ship and stepped aboard a small launch with the event organisers and so that when he pressed the button to start the fireworks, he was in prime position to enjoy the spectacular ten minute display - one minute for every year that Queen Mary 2 has been in service.
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