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

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 ships were en route to Southampton, where they arrived a day later to inaugurate the start of Cunard’s 175th anniversary year.

The Queens set sail from Southampton the same day, and they’ll meet again in Liverpool on May 25, when one million people are expected to welcome the ships.

The following images give you a taste of the spectacular sailaway.

World Maritime News Staff; Gallery: CUNARD