Cunard’s Queen Anne: A Tribute to Liverpool, the Spiritual Home of Cunard

Cunard is thrilled to announce that the City of Liverpool will be the Godparent of its newest ship, Queen Anne, in recognition of the long-lasting bond with its spiritual home.

Liverpool holds a special place in the history of Cunard. The company’s first transatlantic crossing set sail from Liverpool 184 years ago in July 1840, and for 128 years, it served as Cunard’s headquarters. The affection the people of Liverpool have for Cunard is unmistakable, especially when a Cunard ship graces the Mersey.

This deep-rooted connection is highlighted by two of the largest gatherings for a maritime event: a million people came together for the QE2 in 1990, and over a million witnessed the Three Queens Salute in 2015, a year when Cunard was honoured with The Freedom of the City.

In homage to this enduring relationship, Cunard has chosen five distinguished Liverpool icons to represent the city and officially name Queen Anne. These women, embodying the spirit and future of Liverpool, have made significant cultural contributions locally, nationally, and internationally. They include:

• Melanie C, Spice Girl and author

• Ngunan Adamu, broadcaster and community leader

• Natalie Haywood, local restaurant entrepreneur

• Jayne Casey, Liverpool music and cultural legend

• Katarina Johnson-Thomson, British Olympian heptathlete

More About Queen Anne’s Godparent Representatives

Melanie C is best known as one of the five members of the iconic girl band, the Spice Girls, where she was known as “Sporty Spice” due to her athletic style and energetic performances. After the Spice Girls, Melanie C pursued a successful solo career, releasing several albums that garnered critical and commercial success. Deeply committed to charitable work, she has supported numerous causes, including those related to children, cancer research, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has been involved with organizations like the Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, Action Aid, and Shelter. Her philanthropic efforts highlight her dedication to making a positive impact on the world.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has become a global sporting icon, holding numerous records and titles. Drawing from her own experiences, she founded the Katarina Johnson-Thompson Academy to support aspiring athletes from state-school and diverse ethnic communities. In conjunction with the Liverpool FC Foundation, her academy delivers an accessible community athletics program that provides children from disadvantaged areas access to sport and physical activity without financial restrictions. Alleviating obstacles to access in sport is something that Katarina is passionate about as she strives for equality in enabling people to fulfill their potential.

Ngunan Adamu is a seasoned producer, presenter, and international multimedia trainer with over fifteen years of experience at the BBC. She currently leads “UK Black” in the North West, a flagship show dedicated to amplifying the voices and narratives of the African Caribbean community. Beyond her media expertise, Ngunan is a dynamic entrepreneur and community advocate. As the founder and CEO of iWoman Media Ltd, she drives initiatives that promote diversity and empowerment within the industry. Her work spans women’s empowerment, entertainment, exploration, and global inspiration, making a positive impact one story at a time.

Natalie Haywood is the founder and Managing Director of the LEAF Group of companies proudly based in Liverpool. The company, whose ethos is ‘Where There’s Tea There’s Hope,’ has 180 employees and actively promotes working with local suppliers and partners across the Liverpool City Region. Additionally, Natalie is active in the Liverpool hospitality scene, helping to create The Brink Café, the UK’s first dry bar, of which HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is a patron. She also sits on the Business Improvement District board and helps Liverpool gain Purple Flag status – a certificate of excellence in managing the night-time economy.

Jayne Casey is an iconic figure in Liverpool’s music and cultural scene. Known for her support of black music and culture, she manages a live music venue and has played a pivotal role in the city’s creative community for over two decades. As a former member of the 1970s punk band Big in Japan, she performed with Ian Broudie and Holly Johnson. In the 1990s, she co-founded the successful nightclub empire, Cream. Jayne also co-produced the opening ceremony for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture and served as its artistic director.

Queen Anne Naming Ceremony

The naming ceremony of Queen Anne is set to be a grand event, with tens of thousands expected to gather along the waterfront to witness this time-honored tradition, believed to bring good fortune to the new vessel.

The ceremony will begin with a performance by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Event hosts Matt and Emma Willis will then take to the stage to oversee the proceedings. The chosen icons will join Cunard President Katie McAlister and Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge to officially name the ship, continuing the seafaring tradition by smashing a bottle of champagne against the 249th ship to carry the Cunard name.

The formal proceedings will conclude with a stunning performance by operatic superstar Andrea Bocelli, including his iconic song “Time to Say Goodbye.”

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, expressed her excitement: “Liverpool is the spiritual home of Cunard, and we are therefore delighted and feel it very fitting that the City of Liverpool is the godparent to Queen Anne. It’s testament to the enduring relationship that connects Cunard and the city in which it was founded to the present day when we officially named our new ship on the Liverpool Waterfront, in front of the Cunard Building. We are equally delighted to have our five chosen Liverpool icons represent the city in the ceremony. All remarkable in their own right, they have inspired generations and collectively capture the essence of the city that has shaped global culture.”

Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council, echoed these sentiments: “It’s an incredible honour for the City of Liverpool to be chosen as the Godparent of Queen Anne. This city shares a treasured bond with Cunard dating back to 1839 when we were the original home of the world-famous line. The naming ceremony was a magnificent showpiece that once again cast Liverpool into the limelight, and we are so proud to be forever entwined with Queen Anne as she sails the world. We will always cherish our long-standing relationship with Cunard.”

The Queen Anne naming ceremony is not just an event; it is a celebration of a bond that has stood the test of time, a tribute to Liverpool’s enduring influence on maritime history, and a testament to the city’s vibrant cultural legacy.