Princess Margaret Launches Ship -- Princess Margaret made her first public appearance alone when she launched the 28,500-ton Royal Mail liner Edinburgh Castle at a Belfast dockyard. She performed the ceremony by pulling a lever which released a bottle of South African wins against the ship's bows and at the same time freed the "triggers" which held the ship on the slipway - the first time this new launching gear has been used. Afterwards she made her first important public speech. Princess Margaret walking past the guard of honour at the Belfast dockyard. October 17, 1947. (Photo by Mirror Features).