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Queen Elizabeth II says farewell to QE2

Monarch visits well-known cruise liner Monday, launched ship in 1969

Image: Queen Elizabeth II
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II unveils a painting of the QE2 passing through Southampton waters by Isle of Wight artist Robert Lloyd during her visit to the Queen Elizabeth 2, or QE2 in Southampton, on Monday.
Arthur Edwards / AFP - Getty Images
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updated 11:04 a.m. ET June 2, 2008

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II has made a farewell visit to the Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise liner before it is retired later this year.

The monarch launched the ship in Scotland in 1969, and she was in Southampton on Monday for a last tour.

The ship is due to make its last voyage in November when it sails to Dubai to become a floating hotel.

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The visit coincided with the 55th anniversary of the queen's accession to the throne following the death of her father, King George VI.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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