Chatham Dockyard and Royal Visits

The Dockyard has enjoyed close connections with various members of the Royal Family. On 7th April 1875, H.R.H. Princess Alexandra, the Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra) launched the ironclad battleship HMS Alexandra at Chatham Dockyard. A crowd of over 25,000 people watched as the royal sponsor launched this magnificent ship into the River Medway. The penultimate battleship to be launched at Chatham - HMS Prince of Wales - was launched by Princess Mary, the Princess of Wales (later Queen Mary) on the 25th March 1902. The Princess struck a garlanded bottle of wine against the ship's bows to name her, before using a ceremonial mallet and chisel to severe the cord, and sent the vessel down the launch ways of No. 7 Covered Slip.