HMS Vanguard sails. In the grey early morning light, with slight snow falling, Britain's mightiest battleship, HMS Vanguard, slid slowly out of Portsmouth Harbour today (Saturday), bearing the Royal family to South Africa. As the ship left, the King and Queen, with the two princesses, stood on the gun turret to acknowledge farewell cheers from onlookers on the Dockside. Photo shows, their majesties the King and Queen with the princesses on top of the fore turret as the Vanguard steams past the Home Fleet assembled off the Needles today (Saturday). The King is at the salute as Britain's mightiest battleship passes the Home Fleet. 1 Febuary 1947