Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria is celebrating a special milestone – her fifth anniversary.

Since departing her homeport of Southampton on her maiden voyage on December 11, 2007 – a day after being named by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall – she has sailed over half a million nautical miles, called at 196 ports in 63 countries and carried almost 250,000 guests.

In all, 20,300 bottles of champagne – enough to fill six Olympic-size swimming pools – have been drunk and 9,125,000 cups of tea and 1,460,000 scones have been served since 11 December 2007.

To mark this special birthday, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will make a return visit (her third in five years) to her ship on December 13 in Southampton and spend time meeting crew before unveiling a specially-commissioned portrait of herself and cutting a special birthday cake.

Cunard’s President and Managing Director Peter Shanks said Cunard was very proud of Queen Victoria, her crew and her achievements since she entered service.