Rear Admiral Roger Lockwood CB has been appointed Chairman of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, succeeding Rear Admiral Neil Rankin CB CBE.
From September 2026, Rear Admiral Lockwood will assume the role of Chair of the Trust which was responsible for bringing The Royal Yacht Britannia to Edinburgh and overseeing its subsequent 28 years as a leading ambassador for Scottish tourism.
Rear Admiral Rankin is stepping down after 28 years of dedicated service to the Trust, having played a pivotal role in Britannia’s transformation from former Royal Yacht to one of the UK’s most successful visitor attractions, and more recently Tripadvisor’s No.1 Attraction in the World.
Reflecting on his time with the Trust, Rear Admiral Rankin said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust over the past 30 years. From the moment Britannia arrived in Edinburgh, we have remained committed to preserving this historic vessel and sharing her story with visitors from around the World.
The Trust’s success is a testament to the dedication, professionalism and passion of our Staff and Trustees, whose efforts have ensured Britannia continues to inspire and educate future generations. I am immensely proud of all that has been achieved and leave knowing the Trust is in very capable hands and exceptionally well placed for the future.
I wish Rear Admiral Roger Lockwood every success as Chairman and have complete confidence that, under his leadership, Britannia will continue to flourish.”
Looking ahead to his new role, Rear Admiral Lockwood said: “I am honoured to be appointed Chair of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and to succeed Rear Admiral Neil Rankin, whose leadership and dedication have helped establish Britannia as one of Scotland’s most successful heritage attractions.
Britannia occupies a unique place in our national story and stands today as a benchmark for excellence in Scottish tourism. I look forward to working with the Board and Staff to build on this legacy and guide the Trust into its next chapter.”
The Royal Yacht Britannia is owned and cared for by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust (Scottish Charity No. SC028070), which preserves the Royal Yacht for future generations and reinvests all surplus income into her ongoing conservation and maintenance.
