Royal first for Princess of Wales as she names Royal Naval ship HMS Glasgow

Even after 14 years married into the royal family, it turns out there can still be a first for the Princess of Wales.

Kate named her first naval ship during a visit to the BAE Systems’ shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow, alongside Prince William.

The Duchess of Rothsay, as she’s known in Scotland, gave a short speech before breaking a bottle of whisky on the warship for the symbolic ceremony.

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“I have the pleasure to name this ship: HMS Glasgow,” Kate said.

“May God bless her and all who sail on her.”

Kate didn’t physically break the whisky bottle on the ship’s hull herself, instead pressing a button that set things in motion, which is more common these days.

Thankfully the bottle did break, which is seen as a sign of good luck.

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Kate donned an elegant nautical look in a £1850 ($3870) Suzannah London navy wool crepe coat dress with white trim detailing.

This was paired with her large-brimmed Philip Treacy saturn dome hat, first seen on the princess at 2022’s Trooping the Colour.

She accessorised the look with Princess Diana’s cabochon sapphire in diamond cluster earrings that match her engagement ring, which used to belong to her late mother-in-law.

Prince William matched his wife’s ensemble, wearing a navy suit with medals affixed to his chest.

The 43-year-old was named sponsor for the state-of-the-art anti-submarine frigate in 2021, marking the first time she’d sponsored a naval ship.

Prince William first revealed the news on a visit to a shipyard in Govan, Scotland in June that year.

He said his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, had approved the the appointment of the then-Duchess of Cambridge as the sponsor of HMS Glasgow.

Sponsors are typically females, with the idea that, like a goddess or mother, they will guide the ship.

With her appointment, Kate joined the ranks of Queen Elizabeth and then-Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Camilla, in the long-standing Royal Navy tradition.

Kate met HMS Glasgow sailors at Windsor Castle in 2022, to hear about the progress of work being done on the ship, as well as their experiences in the Royal Navy.

This was within the scope of the Princess of Wales’ duties as the ship’s sponsor, as was attending the naming ceremony.

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The royal is expected to continue to support the vessel and her crew, as well as “supporting milestones, events and deployments involving the ship”, Kensington Palace said previously.

On arrival on Thursday, Kate was given a posy by two young boys wearing traditional kilts.

Following the naming ceremony, the Prince and Princess of Wales walked aboard HMS Glasgow and met with representatives from BAE Systems, who delivered the ship.

The couple were talked through the unique capabilities of the vessel and also met apprentices and graduates of BAE Systems’ Shipbuilding Academy.

Kate was seen in fits of laughter as she and Prince William “raced” to put together pipe work with members from the program.

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