New Official Portrait of Her Majesty The Queen Unveiled

Portrait by Youngest Female Artist to Paint the Monarch Will be Displayed on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth

LONDON, September 20, 2010 - In line with the Cunard tradition of commissioning appropriate sculpture
or portraits for display on board each ship named by a member of the Royal
Family, the company has commissioned an official portrait of The Queen for
the new Queen Elizabeth, due to be named by Her Majesty next month.

This new official portrait will be unveiled by the artist today at a
private event at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The portrait, which shows The Queen in the Yellow Drawing Room at
Buckingham Palace, was painted by 31-year-old Lancashire-born Isobel Peachey.
Although an accomplished award-winning portrait artist, she had never before
been commissioned to paint a royal portrait. She says:

"At my interview with Cunard, I answered many questions about how I would
approach an important commission - but it was only at the end of the
interview that the subject was revealed as The Queen. This was both a shock
and a marvellous surprise".

Commenting on how the artist was chosen, Cunard's President and Managing
Director, Peter Shanks, says:

"Apart from being impressed by the quality of Isobel's work, which we
originally saw on display in the National Portrait Gallery, we were keen to
offer the commission to a young artist who had never before had such an
opportunity. Isobel is, in fact, the youngest female artist ever to paint the
Monarch, and the quality of the finished work is such that our confidence has
been greatly rewarded. It is a truly wonderful picture of Her Majesty. It is
even more remarkable when you consider that, lacking a private studio, she
executed this magnificent painting in her mum's attic!"

The portrait is a three-quarter length painting which shows The Queen
dressed in blue and wearing Queen Victoria's collet necklace and earrings,
which she also wore for her Coronation in 1953.

The Queen will see the finished portrait for the first time on 11 October
when she visits Southampton to name the new liner Queen Elizabeth. The
portrait will be displayed in a prominent position in the ship's Grand Lobby.

Note to Editors

    - The portrait is being unveiled by the artist at the National
      Portrait Gallery at 1930 hours on Monday 20 September. However, the
      portrait will not be on public view at the Gallery.

    - Queen Elizabeth will be named by HM The Queen in Southampton
      on 11 October.

    - Further information about Isobel Peachey, and pictures of
      the artist at work, are available on request.

www.queenelizabeth.cunard.com

www.wearecunard.com

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

For Further PRESS Information: Eric Flounders, Public Relations Manager: +44(0)207-940-5390
eric.flounders at cunard.co.uk; Michael Gallagher, Public Relations Executive: +44(0)207-940-5391, michael.gallagher at cunard.co.uk