A FAMOUS steam ship which once carried passengers including the Queen Mother and King George V is to set sail once again along the River Clyde.

Anne, the Princess Royal, made the announcement yesterday, during a visit to the TS Queen Mary – which is currently undergoing careful restoration in Glasgow.

Originally, it was planned that the ship would be permanently berthed at Pacific Quay, finding a home next to Glasgow Science Centre – where the focus would have been on heritage and on maritime training.

However, it has now been decided that the vessel will sail again on the Clyde – to support the post-pandemic recovery and help boost tourism in the city.

READ MORE: The Scottish town that really should be in the tourist guidebook

The charity Friends of TS Queen Mary, tasked with the restoration, says it has been “overwhelmed by the generosity of corporate donors and individuals”.

Iain Sim, chairman of the Friends of Queen Mary, said: “It is entirely fitting that this announcement should be made by HRH The Princess Royal given the strong family connection TS Queen Mary has, not just to her great grandmother Queen Mary after whom the ship is named, but to the wider Royal Family.

“When Her Royal Highness became Royal Patron of the ship three years ago to the day, it re-established that important Royal link.

“TS Queen Mary also has a special place in the hearts and minds of those in Britain and beyond who recall this iconic ship and its unrivalled place in the life of the River Clyde.

“Thanks to the backing of our wonderful supporters, both individual and corporate and those whose hard work is defining this restoration, TS Queen Mary will set sail once again.

“While TS Queen Mary’s incredible history can only be understood looking backwards, her legacy must be lived looking forward.”

It is hoped TS Queen Mary will be back in service offering Clyde cruises by the summer of 2024.

Since restoration work began, Friends of TS Queen Mary have raised and invested £3.8 million of cash and in-kind support into the renovation project.

Substantial work is still needed, and the ship requires new engines, among other things.

READ MORE: In defence of Cumbernauld town centre: Why we'll miss it when it's gone

In her heyday, the vessel, built at Dumbarton in 1933, carried 13,000 passengers each week and was known as “Britain’s Finest Pleasure Steamer”. Royal passengers included the then-Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, while other famous guests to step aboard included then-US first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, and legendary Scottish music hall entertainer, Harry Lauder.

Scottish film actor, comedian and writer Robbie Coltrane, remains a patron of the charity, and commented: “I always dared to say that we could put engines back in her and sail her down the Clyde like she did in 1933.

“I believed it could be done, and I believed that it should be done.

“TS Queen Mary is as relevant in the 21st Century as she was almost 90 years ago,” Coltrane continued.

“Now she is coming back to reclaim her throne.”