Cunard's new liner, Queen Elizabeth, will be a sister to Queen Victoria. If you've ever seen the Grand Lobby aboard Queen Victoria, you know that it's the first part of the ship passengers normally see when they board, and your eye is drawn directly to the main staircase and the huge artwork at the landing. So when designing Queen Elizabeth, Cunard knew they wanted something special there, since it sets the tone for vessel and the entire voyage. They wanted something that said, "Britain," and something that said, "Cunard." Sure they could have gotten a wax figure of Benny Hill with a recorded voice saying, "Britain and Cunard," but instead they chose to go the less fun, but more upscale route and commission an 18-and-a-half-foot panel from David Linley, the Queen's only nephew and noted creator of fine furniture and marquetry.
The complete article appeared in the May 20, 2010, edition of Cruise News Daily. Photos are in a newsfile on the CND website.
