Press Release
Issued: Wednesday, 25th February, 2015
Royal ‘Waves’ All Around Titanic Belfast
Prince Edward Tours Titanic Attraction
HRH The Earl of Wessex, has become the latest member of the Royal Family to tour Titanic Belfast.
Following in the footsteps of the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew, Prince Edward enjoyed an hour-long tour of the world’s largest Titanic tourist attraction which has welcomed over two million visitors since opening in 2012.
The Earl was also one of the first visitors to view the recently refreshed exhibition gallery at Titanic Belfast - the Launch Gallery - which retells the spectacle of Titanic’s launch on 31st May, 1911.
Welcoming the Earl of Wessex, Tim Husbands MBE, Titanic Belfast’s CEO, said:
“From her origins as a Royal Mail Steamship, ‘RMS Titanic’ has always had a royal connection. Indeed, it was another Royal Mail Steamship, the ‘Carpathia’, which rescued over 700 of Titanic’s passengers on the night she was lost.
“We were delighted to welcome the Earl of Wessex to Titanic Belfast today. He took a particular interest in how Titanic Belfast has used modern technology to bring Titanic’s story to life and Belfast’s remarkable emergence as an industrial powerhouse over a century ago.
“The Earl also viewed our new Launch Gallery, the first full gallery to be revamped since Titanic Belfast opened in 2012. This new gallery recalls the excitement of the dramatic 62 seconds it took to launch Titanic at 12.13pm on 31st May, 1911 and recreates for visitors how Titanic would have looked on her slipway.”
Highlights of the tour included the shipyard ride, which evokes the sights and sounds of Harland & Wolff where Titanic was built, as well as galleries telling the story of Belfast’s industrialisation and Titanic’s fit out.
The Earl of Wessex was also greeted at Titanic Belfast by Pat Doherty, Chairman of Titanic Belfast and Sir Nigel Hamilton KCB DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
Titanic Belfast
Titanic Belfast is an iconic six-floor building featuring nine interpretive and interactive galleries that explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Titanic, as well as the City and people which made her. It is the world’s largest Titanic exhibition.
The building houses temporary exhibits, a banqueting suite, education and community facilities, catering and retail space, and a basement car park. Visitors learn about the construction of RMS Titanic and the wide and rich story of Northern Ireland’s industrial and maritime heritage.
Supported by the Northern Ireland Executive, Titanic Belfast is a unique public/private partnership funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour and Titanic Quarter Ltd – a sister company of Harcourt Developments. It is operated by Titanic Belfast Ltd and owned by the Titanic Foundation Ltd – a company with charitable status.
For further information please contact:
Jonathan King Mark Sterling
Stakeholder Communications Stakeholder Communications
Tel: 028 9033 9949 028 9033 9949
M: 077646 27297 07858 045418
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