Royal Sovereign

In 1804, a new yacht was launched for George III of England, the Royal Sovereign. Unfortunately, due to his advanced age and metal instability, the king never set foot on the vessel after 1805. This model may have been built for him before the ship was completed, to explain the details of her furnishings. It may also have been a royal toy in later years, a reminder of happier times afloat. The ship served as a royal yacht until 1832; she was then decommissioned and used a depot ship until she was broken up in 1850.

The model is extraordinary for its detailed representation of both the exterior and the interior of the vessel. There are very few records that describe the interiors of ships in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The few that do survive suggest that the furnishings were more elaborate and luxurious than might have been supposed.

Of course, a royal vessel would have been elaborate indeed. Note especially the fabric wall coverings, the carpeting, the paintings, and the highly embellished furniture. A gold crown surmounts the king's bed. Even less common than descriptions of the living accommodations are those of work areas. The fully fitted galley is thus of special interest, as are the various arrangements made for sanitation and bathing. The human figures may not be contemporary with the model.

When the Royal Sovereign was launched, she was described as having sides—ornamented with medallions representing the Four Cardinal Virtues, as female figures, in gilt frames... the figurehead is a representation of Her Majesty with the Imperial Crown over her head... The stern is decorated with the figure of Neptune in his Car, with his Trident in his hand, the Sea underneath, and Dolphins playing around. Over the cabin windows are under the taffrail are placed the figures of the four Quarters of the World... Upon the whole, as sailors term it, there is an abundance of gingerbread work. These decorative elements are all visible on the model. In addition to the working launching ways, the model is fitted with a full complement of spars, which have apparently never been fitted to the hull. They are contained in drawers on either side of the case. The case itself is believed to be original to the model, and is fitted with silver crowns at each corner.

For more information, e-mail collections@MarinersMuseum.org.