London -- May 20, 2008 -- Buckingham Palace announced today via the Government News Network
that Queen Elizabeth II will visit the Cunard ship QE2 in Southampton on Monday June 2nd 2008.

This will be Her Majesty's final visit to the ship, which leaves the service of Cunard later this year. The Queen has had a long association with the QE2, having launched it in 1967.

The QE2 has sailed 5.5 million nautical miles. In her 40 years of service she has carried more than two million guests and completed 24 Full World Cruises. She is the fastest merchant ship in operation.

The Queen launched the QE2 in September 1967 and last visited, with the Duke of Edinburgh, in July 1990.

The vessel will be at Southampton's Eastern Docks, berth 38/39.