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The Queen Mary 2, the largest cruise liner ever built, has its home port in Southampton.

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Before the launch, the Queen was shown round the bridge of the giant ship by Commodore Ronald Warwick.

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Meanwhile, Captain Paul Wright (l) led the Duke of Edinburgh on a tour of the lavish interior of the ship.

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The Duke also received a guide to the controls of the 2,620-passenger Cunard liner.

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The Queen officially launched the ship, which will take over the Southampton to New York service in April.

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Following the official launch, a spectacular firework display lit the sky above the liner.