Liverpool icons pose on Queen Anne's deck in Liverpool ahead of her naming ceremony. L to R: Natalie Haywood, Ngunan Adamum, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Melanie C, and Jayne Casey.

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The Official Naming of Queen Anne

Yesterday, Liverpool Waterfront took centre stage for the spectacular naming of Queen Anne, and we’ve captured all the highlights for you to enjoy at home.

5 min 04 Jun 2024

Cunard

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Watch our naming ceremony coverage on Youtube

Crowds lined the waterfront for Queen Anne’s impressive arrival in the morning, until an unforgettable sailaway party in the evening. The celebrations featured performances from Andrea Bocelli, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and of course the naming of the ship.

Cunard President Katie McAlister and the five Liverpool icons on stage at Queen Anne's naming ceremony in Liverpool

We are thrilled to announce the City of Liverpool as Godparent of Queen Anne in recognition of the long-lasting bond with our spiritual home. On behalf of the city, five distinguished Liverpool icons have been selected to represent the city and officially name Queen Anne.

These distinguished women, who embody the heart and future of Liverpool, just as Queen Anne does for Cunard, have been chosen for their significant contributions to culture at a local, national or international level. All proud Liverpudlians, they are:

Ngunan Adamu

A seasoned producer, presenter, and international multimedia trainer with over fifteen years of experience at the BBC. She currently leads "UK Black" in the North West, a flagship show dedicated to amplifying the voices and narratives of the African Caribbean community.

Beyond her media expertise, Ngunan is a dynamic entrepreneur and community advocate. As the founder and CEO of iWoman Media Ltd, she drives initiatives that promote diversity and empowerment within the industry. Her work spans across women's empowerment, entertainment, exploration, and global inspiration, making a positive impact one story at a time.

Chosen charity: Windrush

Natalie Haywood

The founder and Managing Director of the LEAF Group of companies proudly based in Liverpool. The company, whose ethos is ‘Where There’s Tea There’s Hope’, has 180 employees and actively promotes working with local suppliers and partners across the Liverpool City Region.

On top of this, Natalie is active in the Liverpool hospitality scene, helping to create The Brink Café, the UK’s first dry bar, of which HRH The Duchess of Cambridge is a patron, plus sitting on the Business Improvement District board and helping Liverpool gain Purple Flag status – a certificate of excellence managing the night-time economy.

Chosen charity: Alder Hey Children’s Charity

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

A global sporting icon, holding numerous records and titles. Founding the Katarina Johnson-Thompson Academy via her own lived experiences, the academy provides support to aspiring athletes from state-school and diverse ethnic communities to access opportunities they have previously not had and, in conjunction with Liverpool FC Foundation, delivers an accessible community athletics programme providing children from disadvantaged areas access to sport and physical activity without financial restrictions.

Alleviating obstacles that allow people to access sport is something that Katarina is passionate about as she strives for equality in enabling people the chance to fulfil their potential.

Chosen charity: KJT Academy and Liverpool Football Club Foundation

Melanie C

Best known as one of the five members of the iconic girl band, the Spice Girls, where she was known as "Sporty Spice" due to her athletic style and energetic performances. Melanie C pursued a successful solo career, releasing several albums that garnered critical and commercial success.

Melanie C is deeply committed to charitable work. She has supported numerous causes, including those related to children, cancer research, and LGBTQ+ rights. She has been involved with organisations like the Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, Action Aid and Shelter. Her philanthropic efforts highlight her dedication to making a positive impact on the world.

Chosen charity: Alder Hey Children’s Charity

Jayne Casey

An iconic figure in Liverpool's music and cultural scene. Known for her support of black music and culture, she manages a live music venue and has played a pivotal role in the city's creative community for over two decades. As a former member of 1970s punk band Big in Japan, she performed with Ian Broudie and Holly Johnson. In the 1990s, she co-founded the successful nightclub empire, Cream. Jayne also co-produced the opening ceremony for Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture and served as its artistic director.

Chosen charity: Arts CIC

Bringing together culture, creativity, and innovation, Cunard will award each icon a grant to invest in a local charity organisation of their choice.