From opening gardens to leading sailing regattas, Kate Middleton and Prince William’s responsibilities as royals are plenty. Today, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took a break from the norm and attended a naming ceremony for the RRS Sir David Attenborough, a polar research ship, in Birkenhead, England.
This particular naming ceremony drew more public interest than most thanks to the comical story of how the research ship received its moniker. It all started when the public was invited to vote on names for the vessel. Ultimately, “Boaty McBoatface” was the winner, but, since that’s not the most highbrow of names, it received the title Sir David Attenborough (an environmentalist and broadcaster) instead.
In keeping their promise to leave the naming up to a vote, however, the marine powers that be agreed to name the yellow submarine aboard the RSS Sir David Attenborough Boaty McBoatface. You truly can’t make this stuff up.
Anyway, the 37-year-old Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, also 37, posed for photos in front of ol’ Boaty and learned all about how the cheekily named sub will help further polar science findings with its ability to dive deep below the sea’s surface.
