FROM Weston Shore to Gosport, all along the Waterside to Calshot and across the northern coast of the Isle of Wight, they came to watch Southampton’s latest cruise ship set off on her maiden voyage.

Thousands of people lined Southampton Water to see Queen Elizabeth leave after slipping her moorings at 5pm yesterday.

The ship will call at Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma and Madeira, with guests staying in ultra- luxurious suites, paying £15,799 each for the 13-night voyage.

Queen Elizabeth will not only take the name of her home port of Southampton to all corners of the world but the city’s coat of arms as well, after the Mayor of Southampton, Cllr Carol Cunio, presented it to Captain Christopher Wells at the traditional plaque and keys ceremony.