Inside the British Royal Family’s Most Famous Yachts

Of the 83 official royal yachts, only a handful became widely known beyond royal and naval circles. HMY Mary (1660)Sepia Times // Getty Images A pencil drawing of Royal Yacht Mary by Willem van de Velde. But it established the template for every royal yacht that followed: a vessel reserved for the sovereign’s use. HMY Victoria and Albert II (1855)Heritage Images // Getty Images Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert II in 1900. HMY Britannia (1953)Bryn Colton // Getty Images The Royal Yacht Britannia.