Axing Royal Yacht Britannia caused 'great hurt' to the Queen, says one of her former advisers

Axing Royal Britannia caused “great hurt” to the Queen and “did lasting damage to the standing of the United Kingdom”, one of her former advisers has said.

Lord Dannatt, who was the Constable of the Tower of London with a right of direct access to the Sovereign, said the decision in 1997 only saved a “paltry” £60million a year.

Lord Dannatt - who would have regularly met the Queen when he was her representative at the Tower of London from 2009 to 2016 - said: “The real world is options can quickly become decisions and then the damage is done.

“In 1996 axing the royal yacht was an option, but threat option became a decision saving a paltry £60 million and did lasting damage to the standing of the United Kingdom and great hurt to Her Majesty.”

Craig MacKinlay, a Tory MP backing the Telegraph’s campaign for a new royal yacht, said: “A new Royal Yacht Britannia would project soft power for Britain in the post Brexit world – and as ever is the proper tribute and mark of respect for our long serving and dearly loved Monarch

“It is a national asset that should never have been decommissioned without a replacement.”

The Telegraph has been campaigning for a new Britannia to help win deals for Britain after the UK leaves the European Union for months.

Secret for a new £100million Britannia have already received the backing of two Cabinet ministers, Liam Fox and Boris Johnson who has insisted he would “love a trade yacht” to help win deals for Britain after Brexit.

Dr Fox, the International Trade secretary, has held talks with ministers about a new commissioning Royal Yacht Britannia which would "a showcase for everything that is best in Britain", The Telegraph can disclose.

Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse minister, becomes first Government minister to back the plans publicly.

He told Chopper's Brexit Podcast: "It would be fantastic opportunity to show the best of British manufacturing on a global scale."

He said a new royal yacht would be "a fantastic showcase for this Government" and  "a global status symbol for Britain".