The Royal Yacht Carolina drifting into an anchorage with dignitaries being rowed out to meet her; and An Admiralty Yacht in crowded waters in a stiff breeze off Gravesend

Built at Sheerness in 1700 and originally named Peregrine Galley after her designer Peregrine, Lord Danby, the Carolina was specifically refitted as a royal yacht at Deptford in 1716 at which time she was renamed in honour of the new Princess of Wales, later Queen Caroline, the consort of George II. The first royal yacht to be ship-rigged, she was 197 tons burden and measured 87 feet in length with a 22½ foot beam. Armed with 20 cannon and 12 swivel guns, her sumptuous accommodation was fitted at the time of her conversion in 1716 and she was the largest royal yacht then in commission, remaining so until 1749 when the new Royal Caroline was launched.

We are grateful to Michael Naxton for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.