Cunard’s fleet of Three Queens – flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth – welcomed the new Royal Baby with a simultaneous sounding the ships’ whistles (foghorns) at noon today.

Following the time-honoured Magpie rhyme beginning ‘One for sorrow, Two for joy’, the fleet sounded their whistles three times in unison, ‘Three for a girl (Four for a boy)’.

The three ships arrive into Southampton on Sunday May 3 inaugurating the start of Cunard’s 175th anniversary year.

Commodore of the Fleet and Master of Queen Victoria, Christopher Rynd said:

“Cunard’s Three Queens are gathering in Southampton on Sunday to inaugurate the company’s 175 anniversary year in the UK. How wonderful to have the opportunity, at the same time, to celebrate the arrival of the new Royal baby girl, the fourth in line to the throne. On behalf of everyone at Cunard we would like to wish their Royal Highnesses all the happiness that a new arrival brings.”

That same afternoon, the Three Queens sailed, for the first time ever, together in daylight from Southampton led by Queen Mary 2.  The three ships will be setting off on their Summer season of Transatlantic Crossings, Mediterranean fly-cruises, Scandinavian and southern European sailings, with Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth heading for New York, St Peter Port (Guernsey) and Hamburg respectively.