Fairytale of a British Princess: Her Majesty on the High Seas

They say that the British have a special affinity for princesses - some grace the covers of tabloids, others the covers of nautical magazines. And while the former are mostly discussed over the choice of dress, the latter have been proving for sixty years that true luxury is something that is not shown – but experienced at sea. Princess Yachts has thus, without unnecessary splendor and pomp, become synonymous with a blend of tradition, modern technology and that special British sense of proportion. And this year, their story celebrates a grand six decades.

The Plymouth heritage: A 'pin to yacht' building philosophy

At the heart of this story is Plymouth, a city on the English Channel that has lived for centuries on the sea, shipbuilding and the navy. It was here that the first Princess was built in 1965 in a small shack – which still stands today as a reminder of the beginning. 

What sets this company apart from most is the fact that design and production are not separated. Almost the entire yacht, from the structure to the interior, is created under their roof with the exception of the engine, glass and navigation electronics, everything is made in Plymouth. 

This ‘pin to yacht’ approach is not a romantic legend from a catalog, but a very real building philosophy that requires knowledge, patience and craftsmanship.

Today, Princess is not only part of the city’s identity, but also its largest private employer. In a city of 250,000 inhabitants, 2,500 of them work precisely on creating yachts that set sail in the number of around 250 examples per year. Behind each and every one of them stands meticulous work, but also a very British stubbornness: they prefer to do everything themselves rather than risk compromising on quality.

From Project 31 to global style

To understand how it came about, we have to jump back to 1963, when three friends – former naval officers and an engineer – started chartering a single boat. They converted it, adapted it, modified it – and eventually sold it. From this model, Project 31 was born, the first step onto the offshore cruiser market. 

Model Princess 32 followed, so successful it became the first model to be sold through a network of agents at home and abroad, and within ten years was sold in more than 1,200 units. This model is often cited as the turning point between a business and a brand with distinct style.
That style changed, but never too much. 

Olesinski and LVMH collaborations

In the 1980s, a collaboration with Bernard Olesinski spawned new design lines tailored to customers who were looking for more space and stronger performance. First larger Princess models, at one time the largest in Great Britain, were also the first to aim at the Mediterranean client. Over the following decades, the brand grew alongside their customers’ desires, from smaller flybridge models to impressive 130-footers.

In 2001, Marine Projects was officially renamed Princess Yachts, and in 2008, a collaboration with LVMH brought along impressively stylish interior aesthetics. Collaborations with houses like Fendi Casa showed that luxury means more than just materials: it is a feeling of comfort and harmony in spaces moving along with the sea.

Redefining the bespoke personalisation experience

This is now one the basis of Princess identity: personalization. Their configuration tool is not just a catalog of options, but a world exclusive that allows clients to fully experience being on a yacht before production begins. No other brand on the market offers this level of visualization and spatial perception of the finished yacht, interiors and layout. This tool is a game-changer for both clients and builders. 

In March 2023, Princess Yachts entered a new chapter when the majority stake in the company was acquired by KPS, one of the world’s leading investment groups with a long-standing track record in the industry. The move brought greater stability and set the stage for further development, with a strong focus on technology, design, and the enhancement of production processes.

Portfolio of excellence: From flybridge classics to the X 'Superfly'

This direction is clearly reflected across the brand’s portfolio. The range includes sophisticated F and Y flybridge motor yachts, the dynamic V Class sports yachts, innovative S Class sportbridge models, and the new entry-level C Class, expanding the offering for those taking their first steps into the world of luxury yachting. 

Highlighting the collection are the X 'Superfly' models, created in collaboration with the iconic Italian design house Pininfarina. Looking ahead, the pinnacle of the range will be the 106 Odyssey, marking Princess Yachts’ return to the superyacht segment.

Sixty years after their conception, Princess Yachts are celebrating this anniversary with exclusive content, special events and a limited edition of the iconic V40 model. Special hull graphics, exclusive details in interior and exterior colors, and the ‘60 years’ symbol discreetly worked into the design are not just a tribute to the past, but also a look ahead. 

The story of princess is a nostalgic tale, it is a story of continuity, of a company that has grown from a small business in a building shack to a name that resonates in Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific and both Americas, of skills passed down through the hands, not just designs. It is the story of a brand that does not chase trends, but sets them.