THE LOYAL TOAST LIVE FROM HMS VICTORY ON TRAFALGAR NIGHT

20 Oct 2005 09:15 AM

Her Majesty the Queen will be the Guest of Honour at a special Trafalgar Night dinner onboard HMS VICTORY on Friday 21 October as part of the Royal Navy's Trafalgar bicentennial celebrations. Her Majesty will make a short speech before proposing the traditional 'Immortal Memory' toast to Admiral Lord Nelson which is expected to be broadcast live from the ship on BBC News 24 and Sky Television.

This provides everyone - including those at other dinners being held elsewhere - the opportunity to experience the historic events taking place onboard HMS VICTORY by viewing Her Majesty's speech as it happens.

As part of the evening Her Majesty will be lighting the 'Trafalgar Weekend' National Beacon. She will also witness a special Beat Retreat by the Band of HM Royal Marines and the firing of a theatrical 52-gun night-time broadside from HMS VICTORY.

This dinner is part of a series of events organised by the Royal Navy as part of the Trafalgar Bicentennial commemorations. For more information please log on to www.trafalgar200.com or email media@trafalgar200.com

Editor's Notes

1. The traditional toast for a Trafalgar Night dinner is 'To the Immortal Memory'. This has been proposed in memory of Admiral Lord Nelson at Royal Navy Trafalgar Night dinners every year since 1805.

2. The menu for Trafalgar Night follows a traditional format. Beef is always the main course. Prior to the main course a Baron of Beef is paraded by personnel usually dressed in early 19 century naval attire. They carry the beef at shoulder height around the mess hall and are accompanied by a drummer. Following the main course, 'Ships of the Line' are paraded. These are mini-replicas of galleons and are made of chocolate. They are paraded in a manner to signify the Battle of Trafalgar - the galleons usually have lit sparklers protruding and, if the lights are dimmed, they give the effect of galleons firing broadsides. On completion, the galleons are filled with petit fours which are served to the diners during coffee.

The three main protagonists in the Battle of Trafalgar are represented in the menu. The English from the beef, the French and Spanish in the choice of wines. During the dinner, 2 toasts are given. Firstly, the First Sea Lord will propose a toast to Her Majesty The Queen. This is known as the Loyal Toast and all diners remain seated (naval tradition). The second toast is one made to the 'Immortal Memory'. This will be proposed by Her Majesty The Queen.

3. The Menu for the Trafalgar Night Dinner 2005 onboard HMS VICTORY is:

Starter: Leviathan's Prize from the Deep
Smoked Salmon Tartare bound with an Aged Dill Sauce and mixed with Caviar Cream

Main Course: Fighting Temeraire
Rare Roast Slices of Prime Norfolk Fillet of Beef served on a bed of Sauteed Savoy Cabbage with a Vintage Port and Merlot Jus (Note: Aberdeen Angus beef has been supplied from Norfolk the county where Admiral Nelson was born).
Dauphinoise Potatoes
Roasted Shallots and Trimmed Baby Carrots

Dessert: Lady Hamilton's Delight
Warm Chocoltae Souffle with Spiced Poached Pears served with Cream and a Warm Chocolate Sauce

Red Wine
Marques de Murrieta Gran Reserva 1997 (Spanish)

White Wine
Mason de Bourgogne Montagny Cuvee 1993 (French)

Taylors Port Vintage 1963

Pellegrino 'Victory' Marsala

A Marsala is being served at this special dinner rather than Madeira as Nelson popularized this wine in the Royal Navy. We know that in March 1800, following his return from victory at the Battle of the Nile (1799), he ordered 500 pipes of Marsala (equivalent to 348,000 bottles) to furnish the British Fleet off Malta. The Marsala offered at the Great Cabin dinner is over 35 years old.