Amidst sirens, bells, and the salute of arms, the last king of Egypt ascended the royal yacht "Mahrousa" from the naval base in Ras El Tin, Alexandria. The official spokesperson for the former Egyptian king, Majid Farag, released a video showing King Ahmed Fouad, the former king of Egypt, and his son Prince Mohamed Ali boarding the historic royal yacht "Mahrousa" amid official ceremonies befitting the grandeur of kings and princes.
This royal yacht witnessed the departure of the late King Farouk I from Egypt after the revolution in June 1952, following his abdication in favor of his son, the infant Prince Ahmed Fouad, who then traveled into exile on it to Italy.
The History of the Yacht
The history of the "Mahrousa" dates back to 1863, having been built on the orders of Khedive Ismail. The Egyptian naval crew received it in August 1865, and it was sailed from London in August 1865 via the River Thames to Alexandria. In 1867, the yacht was used to transport the campaign sent to suppress the revolution in Crete, and in 1868 Khedive Ismail himself traveled aboard it to attend exhibitions held in Paris. Additionally, he used it in 1869 to travel to the port of Marseille in France to invite kings and princes of Europe to the inauguration ceremony of the Suez Canal.
The First Maritime Vessel to Cross the Suez Canal
The "Mahrousa" was the first maritime vessel in the world to cross the Suez Canal in 1869, carrying Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III, along with the Prince and Princess of the Netherlands, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, and Crown Prince Frederick of Germany. The yacht features an antique piano gifted by Empress Eugenie to Khedive Ismail, specifically made for her in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1867, which she played herself.
Previous Presidents of Egypt
Late President Anwar Sadat was aboard the yacht for the second inauguration of the Suez Canal on June 5, 1975, after it was cleared of the effects of wars. Furthermore, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was also onboard for the inauguration of the "New Suez Canal" in August 2015. The walls of the Mahrousa are adorned with intricate decorations representing the various civilizations of Egypt throughout different eras, including Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, and Islamic cultures. It also houses silver artifacts, crystal and Limoges ceramics, porcelain sets, and carpets dating back to the 18th century.
