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| Million poppies dropped over QE2 | Million poppies dropped over QE2 |
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| One million Remembrance Day poppies have been dropped over the QE2 in Southampton, ahead of its final voyage. | One million Remembrance Day poppies have been dropped over the QE2 in Southampton, ahead of its final voyage. |
| A DeHavilland Beaver aircraft accompanied by an Auster flew over the QE2 at 1100 GMT to mark the beginning of a two-minute silence. | A DeHavilland Beaver aircraft accompanied by an Auster flew over the QE2 at 1100 GMT to mark the beginning of a two-minute silence. |
| Then as thousands of people watched, a Harrier jet dipped its nose in tribute. | Then as thousands of people watched, a Harrier jet dipped its nose in tribute. |
| Earlier, five tugs were sent to assist the 70,000-tonne liner when it ran aground on a sandbank at about 0530 GMT at the entrance to Southampton Water. | Earlier, five tugs were sent to assist the 70,000-tonne liner when it ran aground on a sandbank at about 0530 GMT at the entrance to Southampton Water. |
| About 2,700 passengers and crew were on board. It later docked at 0730 GMT. | About 2,700 passengers and crew were on board. It later docked at 0730 GMT. |
| Now her sea days are done and she passes on to a new life in a new home. We wish her well Cpt Ian McNaught End of a royal ship's eraYour memories of the QE2In pictures: QE2's final voyage The 40-year-old liner is being taken out of service and turned into a floating hotel in Dubai. It is due to leave on its final voyage on Tuesday evening. | |
| The poppies were dropped to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armistice, the end of World War I. | The poppies were dropped to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armistice, the end of World War I. |
| Following the two-minute silence, the Duke of Edinburgh met crew members who travelled on the QE2 when it was used as a troop ship in the Falklands War. | Following the two-minute silence, the Duke of Edinburgh met crew members who travelled on the QE2 when it was used as a troop ship in the Falklands War. |
| The RAF Harrier jet, from No 1 (F) Squadron, hovered over the QE2 for about one minute at 1345 GMT, dipping its nose in tribute to the ship. | The RAF Harrier jet, from No 1 (F) Squadron, hovered over the QE2 for about one minute at 1345 GMT, dipping its nose in tribute to the ship. |
| As well-wishers looked on from packed ferries in Southampton Water, RFA Mounts Bay led a flotilla of ships past the liner, blowing its horn as it went. | As well-wishers looked on from packed ferries in Southampton Water, RFA Mounts Bay led a flotilla of ships past the liner, blowing its horn as it went. |
| 'Flair and fortitude' | 'Flair and fortitude' |
| In a farewell address, Cpt Ian McNaught told the crowd the vessel had been acclaimed all over the world as a symbol of British excellence. | In a farewell address, Cpt Ian McNaught told the crowd the vessel had been acclaimed all over the world as a symbol of British excellence. |
| "For 40 years QE2 has striven to serve Southampton and serve her country with flair and fortitude," he said. | "For 40 years QE2 has striven to serve Southampton and serve her country with flair and fortitude," he said. |
| The woman who lives on the QE2Working on the most famous liner "But now her sea days are done and she passes on to a new life in a new home. We wish her well." | The woman who lives on the QE2Working on the most famous liner "But now her sea days are done and she passes on to a new life in a new home. We wish her well." |
| Meanwhile divers were at the dockside in Southampton to inspect whether the vessel was damaged when it hit the sandbank. Cunard bosses later said the vessel was ready to sail. | Meanwhile divers were at the dockside in Southampton to inspect whether the vessel was damaged when it hit the sandbank. Cunard bosses later said the vessel was ready to sail. |
| The Maritime and Coastguard Agency also sent two surveyors on board, which it said was standard practice when a vessel ran aground. | The Maritime and Coastguard Agency also sent two surveyors on board, which it said was standard practice when a vessel ran aground. |
| Solent Coastguard said the ship was pulled off the sandbank after about 30 minutes. | Solent Coastguard said the ship was pulled off the sandbank after about 30 minutes. |
| Most passengers were asleep during the grounding and no-one was hurt, owners Cunard said. | Most passengers were asleep during the grounding and no-one was hurt, owners Cunard said. |
| Spokesman Eric Flounders said: "She touched a sandbank called Brambles but with the tide rising she was able to get away. | Spokesman Eric Flounders said: "She touched a sandbank called Brambles but with the tide rising she was able to get away. |
| "We are not aware at this stage of any damage to the vessel and everything is proceeding today as planned." | "We are not aware at this stage of any damage to the vessel and everything is proceeding today as planned." |
| 'Violent shudder' | 'Violent shudder' |
| It is thought winds blowing from the south west at force seven may have contributed to the ship grounding as it made its way into port. | It is thought winds blowing from the south west at force seven may have contributed to the ship grounding as it made its way into port. |
| Kenneth Williams, 79, and his wife Geraldine, 81, of Brockham, Surrey, were on board finishing a 15-day Mediterranean cruise. | Kenneth Williams, 79, and his wife Geraldine, 81, of Brockham, Surrey, were on board finishing a 15-day Mediterranean cruise. |
| "We were sitting having breakfast at 6.15am and suddenly there was quite a violent shudder and it went to ground," Mr Williams said. | "We were sitting having breakfast at 6.15am and suddenly there was quite a violent shudder and it went to ground," Mr Williams said. |
| Mrs Williams added: "It must be symbolic, it doesn't want to go. | Mrs Williams added: "It must be symbolic, it doesn't want to go. |
| She said: "It's a lovely ship, it's a crying shame it's going. Why couldn't it stay here in England?" | She said: "It's a lovely ship, it's a crying shame it's going. Why couldn't it stay here in England?" |
| Derek Millard, 71, and his 72-year-old wife Bunty, from Croydon, south London, were on board for their seventh time. | Derek Millard, 71, and his 72-year-old wife Bunty, from Croydon, south London, were on board for their seventh time. |
| The QE2 arrives in Southampton ahead of its final voyage on Tuesday evening | The QE2 arrives in Southampton ahead of its final voyage on Tuesday evening |
| "We had done 31 cruises so it (the grounding) didn't worry us at all," Mrs Milliard said. | "We had done 31 cruises so it (the grounding) didn't worry us at all," Mrs Milliard said. |
| Mr Millard added: "It was very moving last night at dinner. | Mr Millard added: "It was very moving last night at dinner. |
| "There was a lovely speech by one chap who has been coming on board for 35 years. It was wonderful." | "There was a lovely speech by one chap who has been coming on board for 35 years. It was wonderful." |
| A fireworks display will take place on Tuesday evening as QE2 leaves Southampton for the final time at 1915 GMT. | A fireworks display will take place on Tuesday evening as QE2 leaves Southampton for the final time at 1915 GMT. |
| The liner has sailed nearly six million nautical miles, been round the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers. | The liner has sailed nearly six million nautical miles, been round the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers. |
| It is Prince Philip's seventh visit to the vessel, which was launched by the Queen on Clydebank, near Glasgow, in September 1967. | It is Prince Philip's seventh visit to the vessel, which was launched by the Queen on Clydebank, near Glasgow, in September 1967. |
| Send us your pictures of the QE2 to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send us your pictures of the QE2 to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
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