The QE2 is launched - On this day in history

On this day in history, 1967: The Queen Elizabeth 2 (often referred to as QE2) passenger liner is launched by Queen Elizabeth II at John Brown's shipyard in Clydebank. It would be another year before the ship left her fitting out berth and in November 1968, she was ready to sail down the Clyde for her final trials.

The maiden voyage of the QE2 was made on 2 May 1969, when the ship sailed from Southampton to New York. By the time of her retirement in 2008, the ship had travelled more than six million miles and carried over two million passengers.

Pictured: The Cunard Liner RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 anchored off South Queensferry, Scotland on her last tour round the UK in 2008.