Queen Elizabeth 2 at AAlesund, Norway August 18, 2005.
(Photograph courtesy Gunnar Monsen)

The most famous ship in the world, Queen Elizabeth 2, reaches a notable milestone on Sunday 4 September when she becomes the longest serving Cunarder ever. When she entered service in 1969 city analysts prophesied that QE2 would be mothballed within six months - that the age of the liner was dead. How wrong they were! On Sunday QE2 will pass the 36 years 4 months and 2 days' record of service of Scythia, which sailed from 1921 to 1957.

The Cunard liner R.M.S. Scythia.
(Photograph The Cunard Steam-Ship Company Limited)

QE2 was also the Cunard flagship for longer than any other - from 1969 until she handed over the role to Queen Mary 2 last year. In November last year she became the longest serving Cunard express liner when she passed the 35 years 6 months and 1 day record previously set by Aquitania, which served Cunard Line, in peace and in two wars, from May 1914 to December 1949. This historic event will be marked on board QE2 with a special dinner, the unveiling of a plaque and all passengers will receive a certificate acknowledging their presence on board. Fittingly the vessel will be berthed in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It was Nova Scotian Samuel Cunard who founded Cunard Line in 1839.
(Press release courtesy Cunard Line.)