On July 19, 1843, rain fell over Bristol, but no amount of gray sky could dampen the palpable buzz sweeping through the city. Celebrities, curious spectators, and travelers alike converged on the Great Western Dockyard, drawn by a singular event: Prince Albert was about to preside over the launch of the SS Great Britain—a legendary steamship destined not to return to its home port for another 127 years.
The vessel's construction had begun four years prior, during a period when Bristol found itself caught in a stark economic and commercial downturn. Residents dared to believe that the Prince's patronage, combined with the building of this ambitious steamship, might usher in a renewed golden age for the region. So deep was the local pride surrounding the occasion that the Bristol Mirror ran a special supplement chronicling both the preparations underway and the community's emotional investment in the launch.
Bristol itself was utterly transformed for the occasion, turned into something resembling a grand festival. Flags, banners, and flowers decorated every street, while homeowners along the route of the royal cortege scrubbed and freshly painted their facades. Roads were cleaned with meticulous care, shops shuttered for the day, and throughout the city, an infectious sense of anticipation took hold.
When Prince Albert stepped down from his carriage, accompanied by a small, select entourage, he was formally greeted by the Mayor of Bristol and the Town Clerk. Following this reception, the Prince and his official welcoming party sat down to breakfast before setting off in a parade that wound its way toward the harbor where the great event would unfold.
As the clock crept toward high noon, the harbor came alive with flotillas of ships and boats streaming in, their masts draped in the flags of numerous nations as a salute to the Prince. Aboard the SS Great Britain, a band struck up music to mark the start of the naming ceremony. The climactic moment, however, didn't arrive until roughly 3:30 in the afternoon, when the thunderous boom of cannons signaled the launch and the mighty vessel slid into the ocean for the very first time.