HMY Britannia was launched in 1954 and from that time traveled over one million miles serving as a Royal residence and a setting for official entertainment by the Queen and Royal family during stae visits overseas and at home. The ship has also been used to promote British commercial interests overseas.
By 1997 it was decided that HMY Britannia was no longer required for Royal travel. She was decommissioned in Portsmouth and then made a farewell tour of the United Kingdom.
The painting shows HMY Britannia leaving Tower Bridge flying her "Paying off" pennant (412 ft for the length of Britannia plus one foot for every year the vessel was in service).