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Queen Elizabeth 2 Enhances its Royal Gallery with Revamped Archival Display Celebrating Visits by Global Dignitaries

Queen Elizabeth 2 Enhances its Royal Gallery with Revamped Archival Display Celebrating Visits by Global Dignitaries

Web Release21 hours ago

The Queen Elizabeth 2, Hotel, one of Dubai's most iconic attractions, and a historic symbol of British maritime excellence, has unveiled a beautifully enhanced Royal Gallery, located in the original 'Queen's Grill Lounge'. This refined space now features a curated display of rare and historically significant photographs, spotlighting decades of Royal visits and encounters aboard the legendary ocean liner.
A treasured vessel once synonymous with state visits and royal patronage, the QE2 has hosted some of the most illustrious figures of the 20th century. The newly updated Royal Gallery offers guests a deeper connection to this legacy, with newly restored images that now include Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Majesty King Charles III (then Prince of Wales), Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne, and Diana, Princess of Wales among others.
Ferghal Purcell, General Manager of the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, said, 'The Queen Elizabeth 2 is a living archive of 20th-century history, diplomacy, and Royal tradition. With the enhancement of the Royal Gallery, we are paying tribute to the moments that shaped the ship's iconic status. Every image displayed is a window into history and a reminder of the QE2's enduring global significance.'
To ensure the longevity and clarity of this valuable archive, all photographs have been revamped with UV-resistant printing technology, offering enhanced protection against light exposure while maintaining the authenticity of the original imagery. This significant upgrade not only preserves the collection for future generations but also elevates the visual experience for guests walking through this historically rich corridor.
This enhancement is part of a broader initiative to continuously enhance the ship's onboard Heritage experiences, providing guests not only with one-of-a-kind hospitality but also a chance to relive the ship's most majestic moments. The Royal Gallery now serves as a storytelling space, honouring not just Royal personalities, but the powerful presence of the QE2 in world affairs, ceremonial tradition, and royal history.
The gallery is open to all hotel guests and Heritage Tour visitors and forms an integral part of the immersive heritage offering aboard the QE2.
Heritage Tours
Step aboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 and explore her storied past through four unique guided tour experiences
· QE2 Heritage Tour A classic guided experience taking guests through the ship's most historic spaces, sharing the stories, design, and moments that shaped her legacy. Available daily at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.
· QE2 Heritage Tour for Schools Specially designed for student groups, this educational tour runs on weekday mornings at 8:30 am and 9:30 am, with a maximum of 30 students per session. Advance booking is required.
· QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea & Heritage Tour Pair your heritage journey with the QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea experience at the Queen's Grill, available on Fridays and Saturdays from 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm (last seating at 5:00pm).
· QE2 Dine & Discover Combine the Heritage Tour with either a three-course lunch or buffet dinner for a complete culinary and cultural experience aboard Dubai's most iconic vessel. Available daily at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.
For inquiries, please contact us at
Phone: +971 4 526 8888 or Email: [email protected]
www.qe2.com/heritage-tours

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Queen Elizabeth 2 Enhances its Royal Gallery with Revamped Archival Display Celebrating Visits by Global Dignitaries
Queen Elizabeth 2 Enhances its Royal Gallery with Revamped Archival Display Celebrating Visits by Global Dignitaries

Web Release

time21 hours ago

  • Web Release

Queen Elizabeth 2 Enhances its Royal Gallery with Revamped Archival Display Celebrating Visits by Global Dignitaries

The Queen Elizabeth 2, Hotel, one of Dubai's most iconic attractions, and a historic symbol of British maritime excellence, has unveiled a beautifully enhanced Royal Gallery, located in the original 'Queen's Grill Lounge'. This refined space now features a curated display of rare and historically significant photographs, spotlighting decades of Royal visits and encounters aboard the legendary ocean liner. A treasured vessel once synonymous with state visits and royal patronage, the QE2 has hosted some of the most illustrious figures of the 20th century. The newly updated Royal Gallery offers guests a deeper connection to this legacy, with newly restored images that now include Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, His Majesty King Charles III (then Prince of Wales), Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne, and Diana, Princess of Wales among others. Ferghal Purcell, General Manager of the Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, said, 'The Queen Elizabeth 2 is a living archive of 20th-century history, diplomacy, and Royal tradition. With the enhancement of the Royal Gallery, we are paying tribute to the moments that shaped the ship's iconic status. Every image displayed is a window into history and a reminder of the QE2's enduring global significance.' To ensure the longevity and clarity of this valuable archive, all photographs have been revamped with UV-resistant printing technology, offering enhanced protection against light exposure while maintaining the authenticity of the original imagery. This significant upgrade not only preserves the collection for future generations but also elevates the visual experience for guests walking through this historically rich corridor. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative to continuously enhance the ship's onboard Heritage experiences, providing guests not only with one-of-a-kind hospitality but also a chance to relive the ship's most majestic moments. The Royal Gallery now serves as a storytelling space, honouring not just Royal personalities, but the powerful presence of the QE2 in world affairs, ceremonial tradition, and royal history. The gallery is open to all hotel guests and Heritage Tour visitors and forms an integral part of the immersive heritage offering aboard the QE2. Heritage Tours Step aboard the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 and explore her storied past through four unique guided tour experiences · QE2 Heritage Tour A classic guided experience taking guests through the ship's most historic spaces, sharing the stories, design, and moments that shaped her legacy. Available daily at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. · QE2 Heritage Tour for Schools Specially designed for student groups, this educational tour runs on weekday mornings at 8:30 am and 9:30 am, with a maximum of 30 students per session. Advance booking is required. · QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea & Heritage Tour Pair your heritage journey with the QE2 Royal Afternoon Tea experience at the Queen's Grill, available on Fridays and Saturdays from 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm (last seating at 5:00pm). · QE2 Dine & Discover Combine the Heritage Tour with either a three-course lunch or buffet dinner for a complete culinary and cultural experience aboard Dubai's most iconic vessel. Available daily at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm. For inquiries, please contact us at Phone: +971 4 526 8888 or Email: [email protected]

'Hidden treasure': Rare Gandhi portrait up for UK sale
'Hidden treasure': Rare Gandhi portrait up for UK sale

Gulf Today

time2 days ago

  • Gulf Today

'Hidden treasure': Rare Gandhi portrait up for UK sale

A rare oil painting of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, which is believed to have been damaged by a Hindu nationalist activist, is to be auctioned in London in July. Gandhi, one of the most influential figures in India's history, led a non-violent movement against British rule and inspired similar resistance campaigns across the world. He is the subject of tens of thousands of artworks, books and films. But a 1931 painting by British-American artist Clare Leighton is believed to be the only oil portrait he sat for, according to the painter's family and Bonhams, where it will be auctioned online from July 7 to 15. "Not only is this a rare work by Clare Leighton, who is mainly known for her wood engravings, it is also thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi which he sat for," said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration. The painting is a "likely hidden treasure", Caspar Leighton, the artist's great-nephew, told the media. Going under the hammer for the first time next month, the painting is estimated to sell for between £50,000 and £70,000 ($68,000 and $95,000). Rhyanon Demery uses UV light to show the spot. Clare Leighton met Gandhi in 1931, when he was in London for talks with the British government on India's political future. She was part of London's left-wing artistic circles and was introduced to Gandhi by her partner, journalist Henry Noel Brailsford. "I think there was clearly a bit of artistic intellectual courtship that went on," said Caspar, pointing out that his great-aunt and Gandhi shared a "sense of social justice". Painting attacked The portrait, painted at a crucial time for India's independence struggle, "shows Gandhi at the height of his power", added Caspar. It was exhibited in London in November 1931, following which Gandhi's personal secretary, Mahadev Desai, wrote to Clare: "It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait." "Many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness," reads a copy of the letter attached to the painting's backing board. The painting intimately captures Gandhi's likeness but it also bears reminders of his violent death. Gandhi was shot at point-blank range in 1948 by disgruntled Hindu nationalist activist Nathuram Godse, once closely associated with the right-wing paramilitary organisation RSS. Godse and some other Hindu nationalist figures accused Gandhi of betraying Hindus by agreeing to the partition of India and the creation of Muslim-majority Pakistan. According to Leighton's family, the painting was attacked with a knife by a "Hindu extremist" believed to be an RSS activist, in the early 1970s. Although there is no documentation of the attack, a label on the back of the painting confirms that it was restored in the United States in 1974. Caspar Leighton, great-nephew of British-American artist Clare Leighton, poses with a painting by his great-aunt of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi at Bonhams auction house in London. Photos: AFP Under UV light, Demery pointed out the shadow of a deep gash running across Gandhi's face where the now-restored painting was damaged. "It feels very deliberate," she said. 'Real home' The repairs "add to the value of the picture in a sense... to its place in history, that Gandhi was again attacked figuratively many decades after his death", said Caspar. The only other recorded public display of the painting was in 1978 at a Boston Public Library exhibition of Clare Leighton's work. After Clare's death, the artwork passed down to Caspar's father and then to him. "There's my family's story but the story in this portrait is so much greater," he said. "It's a story for millions of people across the world," he added. "I think it'd be great if it got seen by more people. Maybe it should go back to India -- maybe that's its real home." Unlike countless depictions of the man known in India as the "father of the nation" -- in stamps, busts, paraphernalia and recreated artwork -- "this is actually from the time", said Caspar. "This might be really the last truly significant picture of Gandhi to emerge from that time." Agence France-Presse

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