Queen Elizabeth might have exhibited a calming sense of composure throughout her reign, but there was one event when she gave the public a rare glimpse at her emotional side. On December 11, 1997, Her Majesty's beloved royal yacht, Britannia, was officially decommissioned, and both the Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne couldn't hide their tears.
The late Queen spent priceless private time aboard Britannia with her young family when it launched in 1953, adding grandkids to join in the fun along the way. The yacht served as a home away from home to the royals for 40 years, traveling more than a million nautical miles around the world during royal tours, family holidays and honeymoons.
