No 10 backs down in row over funding for new £200m royal yacht

Trevor Taylor, professorial research fellow in defence management at the security thinktank the Royal United Services Institute, pointed out that the vessel would cost at least £5m to run each year. He said: “I can’t imagine the navy is very keen. If it is thought a genuinely useful asset to have for UK trade and diplomacy then surely it is the trade and foreign ministries that should be providing the finance. If they don’t think they will get significant benefit from it, then they should speak plainly to the prime minister.”