The QE2 was quickly freed by the tugs on the rising tide although, once started on its backwards path, it had a narrow miss with the Hill Head side of the approach. The liner made it safely into Southampton harbour just 25 minutes later than scheduled to be greeted by the Duke of Edinburgh, who led the farewell ceremonies. As divers checked the hull to see if any damage had been sustained, a Tiger Moth dropped a million poppies on the ship to mark the 90th anniversary of the World War 1 Armistice. Passengers who had paid up to £28,000 to be on QE2's final voyage watched as a single RAF Harrier jet hovered over the vessel and dipped its nose in tribute. Two surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency fully inspected the ship and, together with the diver's evidence, concluded it was not damaged and thus safe to undertake its final voyage. 

The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch has launched a preliminary investigation of the incident, as has the Port of Southampton's operator, Associated British Ports.

There is no doubt that the QE2's final departure is a poignant moment. Cunard's longest serving ship was launched on the Clyde in 1967 by the Queen to fanfares and much patriotic pride. There has been a lot of water under the bow since then, some 5.5 million nautical miles of it, and the 2.5 million passengers carried have included everybody from Nelson Mandela to Mick Jagger.

The great British icon will now play a supporting role to one of the world's biggest construction extravaganzas. The final voyage will reach Dubai on 26 November and the ship will be handed over to local construction firm Nakheel, which has created the world's largest man-made island in the form of the Palm Jumeirah. Part of the Dubai World group, Nakheel paid some £50m for the vessel.

After an extensive refurbishment that will see the familiar red funnel sliced off and replaced by a four deck smoked glass penthouse with a swimming pool, the ship will become a floating five star hotel and maritime heritage museum permanently docked at a specially constructed Palm Jumeirah berth.