Her Majesty in Mellowland

Fanfare, floating feasts and Hollywood galas greet the Queen

The trim, perfect vessel, 412 ft. long, glided into overcast San Diego Bay a bit ahead of schedule after a five-day sail up from Mexico, and the regiment of photographers onshore nudged into position. Cannons roared from the escort frigate Diomede, and a U.S. battery returned the 21-gun salute. After Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia steered toward the freshly painted yellow moorings of the Broadway Pier, her Royal Marine band played, then a U.S. Navy band. Suddenly the craning crowd of 6,000 broke into unbuttoned cheers,...

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