Princess Anne today stepped aboard Gipsy Moth IV at Portsmouth Dockyard and expressed her astonishment at the yacht’s speedy restoration. She told Yachting Monthly editor Paul Gelder she was ‘amazed’ that the £600,000 job had been completed in just 150 days.

Anne was one of many VIPs to sign the illustrious visitor’s book: she followed Olympic gold medallist Shirley Roberston; former America’s Cup contender Peter Harrison; and Murlo Primrose widow of Angus one half of GMIV’s Illingworth & Primrose design team.

Apart from the Yachting Monthly editor, Anne was introduced by UK Sailing Academy chief David Green to UKSA project manager John Walsh and development director Jon Ely as well as their partnership manager Frank Fletcher. She also met Camper & Nicholsons’ project manager Martyn Langford.

GMIV shared the Number 2 dock with the late Sir Alec Rose’s Lively Lady, Clare Francis’ old boat Robertson’s Golly, an Ohlsson 38 and Ellen MacArthur’s B&Q. The famous yachts are all part of the International Festival of the Sea.