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Philip showered with champagne at ship ceremony

The Duke of Edinburgh was accidentally showered with champagne at a renaming ceremony for a 19th-century ship which is believed to be the world's oldest clipper.

Prince Philip supports a project to transport the ship back to Australia for preservation Credit: STEFAN WERMUTH/WPA Rota/Press Association Images

Prince Philip chuckled as champagne was thrown to re-name the vessel City of Adelaide, in an ancient ceremony in Greenwich which involved burning offerings to appease the god of the sea and four winds.

The Duke served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and has been involved in the project which will transport the ship back to Australia for preservation.

The ship is now an empty shell without sails, rudder or fittings Credit: Stefan Wermuth/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The passenger ship was built in 1864 and carried migrants to a new life in South Australia in a journey which took 65 days.

The vessel was last used as the headquarters of the Clyde Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in Scotland but is now an empty shell without sails, rudder or fittings.