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| Gloriana, Royal Row Barge Photo Credit: Robert Pittman (CC BY-ND 2.0) |
A barge is a flat-bottomed ship, which is mainly used in river and canals. Barges can have an engine, or they can be powered by rowing. Barges vary in size, from small ships used for short trips to larger ships with overnight accommodations.
UK:
The British Royals don't have any Royal Barges in active use anymore. But the Royal Barge was once a popular means of transportation for the Royals as many Royal Palaces were built on the River Thames: Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, Palace of Westminster, etc. In the 1800s, as trains and then cars started becoming widely used, royals stopped using barges for day to day travel and started using them more for ceremonial events and pageants.
- Royal Nore (1971-2017) - While in use, this barge was owned and maintained by the Port of London Authority. It was the official ship used whenever a member of the Royal Family traveled on the river Thames for an official engagement. Today, it is part of the Britannia Trust and can be seen while visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia.
MV Spirit of Chartwell
Photo Credit: PO Phot Terry Seward, Crown Copyright
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- Gloriana (2012) - This Row Barge was privately commisioned in honor of the Queen's Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012. It is now owned by the Maritime Heritage Trust and used for various public events, and school trips. It is occasionally used for Royal Events, but as an event space, not transport.
- When not in use, the row barge is kept at St. Katharine Docks, in London.
- MV Spirit of Chartwell - The Spirit of the Chartwell was a luxury Thames river cruise ship. The owner donated the use of the ship to the Queen for her Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, during which the ship was dubbed a Royal Barge. The Barge has since been sold to a Portuguese company and can be hired for cruises on the Douro River in Portugal and Spain.
- Royal Barge of HMY Britannia (?-1997) - The Royal Barge was used to get to and from the mainland and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
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| Crown Princess Victoria & Prince Daniel of Sweden on Vasaorden after their wedding Photo Credit: By Atlantic Chef [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons |
Denmark:
- The Royal Barge is used to get to and from the mainland and the Royal Yacht.
- The Royal Barge is used to get to and from the mainland and the Royal Yacht.
Sweden:
Sweden's capital, Stockholm, is made up of 14 islands, with 50+ bridges. As such, boat travel is especially popular, especially in historic times.
Sweden's capital, Stockholm, is made up of 14 islands, with 50+ bridges. As such, boat travel is especially popular, especially in historic times.
- Vasaorden (1923-Present) - This Row Barge is mainly used for ceremonial use as part of a procession (state visits, weddings, etc.).
- Royalty on the River Thames - (Article) by Port of London Authority on the British Royal use of Barges.
- Gloriana (Royal Row Barge) (Website) - The site has some information on the history of Royal Row Barges.
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