Kate Middleton, or as she is now known, Catherine, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, has agreed to name Princess Cruises' upcoming ship, the Royal Princess.
In a ceremony on June 13, the former Ms. Middleton will name the 3,600-passenger vessel, while at port in Southampton, England.
Princess said, via a press release that "the ceremony would uphold British ship-naming traditions including the blessing, a performance by the Royal Marines Band and the pipers of the Irish Guards. The naming will highlight a week of inaugural celebrations to welcome the ship into service."
There is no word if The Duchess's husband, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, would also be attending the ceremony, but Princess Cruise Line is ecstatic that The Duchess has accepted their invitation.
"It is a great honor for Princess Cruises that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has accepted our invitation to become the Godmother to Royal Princess," said Alan Buckelew, Princess' president and CEO, in a statement, according to USA Today. "We are delighted that the Duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company's British heritage and our commitment to the country."
It is in fact been a long tradition for the royals to name cruise ship, and a family tradition when it comes to the Royal Princess.
USA Today reported "the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince William's mother, named the original Royal Princess ship in November 1984, also in Southampton."
As far as the new Royal Princess ship, it is scheduled to arrive at the Ocean Terminal in Southampton on June 7, according to USA Today, "to commence a series of events for customers and travel agents, including a special naming gala on June 12. The ship's inaugural celebrations conclude with the departure of the ship's maiden voyage on June 16."
After the ceremony, the ship will spend its inaugural season offering Grand Mediterranean cruises from Venice and Barcelona, followed by a fall and winter season with Eastern Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale on its itinerary.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
