A NEW flagship to showcase Britain around the world has been given the go-ahead at a cost of up to £200million.
It is expected to be named after the late Prince Philip and will be used to host trade fairs and promote UK goods, design, engineering and green tech.
PM Boris Johnson will today unveil details of the yacht, which will be built in Britain, creating jobs and boosting the shipbuilding industry.
The PM said last night: “This new national flagship will be the first vessel of its kind in the world, reflecting the UK’s burgeoning status as a great, independent, maritime trading nation.
“Every aspect, from its build to the businesses it showcases, will represent and promote the best of British.”
Crewed by the Royal Navy, the yacht is expected to be in service for about 30 years.
On a typical six-month tour, it will dock at ports in countries where the PM and ministers are due to visit for trade talks.
Mr Johnson has not yet settled on a name for the vessel, but he is said to be keen on making it a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last month aged 99.
It will be the first national flagship since 1997, when the Royal Yacht Britannia was decommissioned.
Mr Johnson is keen to make the yacht a symbol of British shipbuilding expertise to promote the industry.
