QE2 or QEII? What's in a name?

[Louis Betti]

Now, here is a question:

Why is the current operating ship named "Queen Elizabeth" not named "Queen Elizabeth 3" ?

Otherwise, and as stated above, the use of the Arabic "2" was appropriate and not the Roman "II". The Queen did get it wrong. As to the use of "QE2", I never had a problem with it from a marketing standpoint, and some of the early logos were quite nice. Using "QEII" might have some pronouncing it as a word, perhaps "Q-eye"? Cunard had to move forward from the old days, and the use of QE2 certainly worked; it just flows off the tongue.

There's Queen Mary (Long Beach, CA) and Queen Mary 2. Anyone remember the story (I never felt it was proven) as to the naming of Queen Mary? She was supposed to be Queen Victoria. Of course that has been taken care of with a Cunard "cruise ship" of the same name (she was actually first intended for Holland America).

Then again, Holland America Line has named six ships "Rotterdam" without any number!

Not much consistency in naming, but at this stage it means very little.

[Rob Lightbody]

I'm still wondering why the new cruise ship was called a Queen at all...

[andy liney]

Anyone remember the story (I never felt it was proven) as to the naming of Queen Mary? She was supposed to be Queen Victoria. Of course that has been taken care of with a Cunard "cruise ship" of the same name (she was actually first intended for Holland America).

...and, of course, the ship then laid down as the future Victoria became the P. & O. Arcadia when Carnival decided to redesign Victoria with separate accommodation for Grills passengers after QM2's limited version of this had proved so successful despite earlier misgivings.

[Adam Ilgin]

We've covered her name in depth here but essentially the queen made a mistake and caused a massive stooshie in Scotland because she's only our first Queen Elizabeth.

Did the Queen ever make a statement on the subject or did she just zip her mouth?

[Graham Taylor]

The Queen herself never issues "statements", sometimes the Palace does, but even then only on certain important non-contentious subjects such as press intrusion on private Family matters. It means it is difficult to know what The Queen personally thinks about certain things, but this way she stays out of politics and the constitutional minefield getting involved would entail (something Prince Charles should heed). Her constitutional rôle is to be kept informed of her Government's policies and to consequently advise her ministers, something she consistently does well after 60 years in the "job".

[Graham Taylor]

I always felt that the Queen might have had in mind that her grandmother (Queen Mary) and her mother (Queen Elizabeth) both had a ship named after themselves, so why not have a ship herself. Although Rob might be on the truth when he says Her Majesty had a 'slip of the tongue'.
The monarch's name includes the roman numeral. hence George I, George II, etc unless the reigning monarch has a name not used before. There is a lot of confusion between QE2 and QEII because of this. The ship is unique amongst other things named for Her Majesty the Queen in that the ship's name was supposed to have been plain "Queen Elizabeth" as told above, and named for the older ship, not the Queen.

Michael touched on this on a post above. It has always been my understanding that only a "Ship of the Line" i.e. a senior vessel of the Royal Navy can be named after a reigning monarch (as now bourne by the new aircraft carrier - although for some reason HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH without THE SECOND).

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Graham Gowans has asked us :

This may have been asked before, but can anyone confirm that the QE2 was meant to be named Queen Elizabeth Two & not the second as the Queen named her ?

There is quite a lot of discussion on the matter above.

Graham, you probably heard a lot of the rumours going around at the time. Did you place a bet on any of the possible names yourself?

[Trevor Harris]

Wasn't Queen Mary 2 a suggestion at the time?

[Bob van Leeuwen]

That would even more sense if they where also planning a running mate

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

This headline almost caught me out, and made me smile :

Travel not recommended on The QE2

https://www.lacombeonline.com/local/travel-not-recommended-on-the-qe2

Did they mean "to" the QE2    ?

[Rob Lightbody]

This headline almost caught me out, and made me smile :

Travel not recommended on The QE2

https://www.lacombeonline.com/local/travel-not-recommended-on-the-qe2

Did they mean "to" the QE2    ?

One of the things that has happened over the ten years of this forum, is that searches for "QE2" have gone from mostly referring to the ship of that name, to mostly referring to other things which usually should be QEII, but that's another character to type so nobody can be bothered... 

[Lynda Bradford]

One of the things that has happened over the ten years of this forum, is that searches for "QE2" have gone from mostly referring to the ship of that name, to mostly referring to other things which usually should be QEII, but that's another character to type so nobody can be bothered... 

Certainly caused a bit of confusion with the headline and it is only when you follow the link that you see it is the  Queen Elizabeth II Highway in Alberta that the advice refers to and not our beautiful QE2.

[Thomas Hypher]

Personally I find the mixing up of QE2 and QEII very annoying as basic research would give the correct answer depending on which "thing" is being referred to... they are two very different "things" after all, despite their close connection!