Cunard has hosted an afternoon tea in its “spiritual home” of Liverpool ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Queen Mary 2 was docked on the River Mersey yesterday (May 4) as part of its coronation voyage, and tied in a Eurovision celebration as Liverpool prepares to host the competition tomorrow.

Guests including the city’s mayor and chief executive of the city council were invited on board for afternoon tea before a fireworks display was held.

Lee Powell, brand and product development vice-president at Cunard, said: “We were absolutely thrilled to kick off this year’s Eurovision celebrations on board Queen Mary 2, especially in our spiritual home of Liverpool, the host city for 2023.

“As our flagship, she epitomises the glitz, glamour and sheer spectacle that the Eurovision Song Contest is famed for, and it was our privilege to host some of the city’s dignitaries to mark the official opening of such an iconic and global TV event.”

Angie Redhead, head of city assets at Liverpool City Council, said: “Liverpool and Cunard have shared a very special relationship for many years so it felt only right and proper that the Queen Mary 2 should call here to join in the celebration of two very important national moments: the coronation of King Charles III and Eurovision.”