Russian and British naval officers to mark 197th anniversary of Battle of Trafalgar

Russian and British naval officers will mark the 197th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar in St. Petersburg on Friday.

On October 21st 1805, the English squadron under Nelson's command defeated the united French-Spanish fleet. The celebration of the victory in the Battle of Trafalgar is one of the most respected traditions of the British Fleet.

According to Chairman of the St. Petersburg Submariners' Club Igor Kurdin, a gala dinner will be served in St. Petersburg to mark the victory.

"The Trafalgar Night" was organised by the General British Consulate in St. Petersburg and British Naval Attache Simon Lister.

Among the guests will be British rear admiral James Rappe, commander of the Leningrad naval base, rear admiral Yuri Kudryavtsev, honoured president of the St. Petersburg Submariners' Club, fleet admiral Georgy Yegorov and others.

British and Russian naval officers will raise their first glass to the Queen of Great Britain, without standing up. This privilege was granted to British naval officers in the early 19th century: English ships have low decks, so when seamen raised their glasses to her Majesty, they could not straighten up - and this was impolite.

Such an event will be held in St. Petersburg for a second time. According to Igor Kurdin, British seamen consider St. Petersburg Russia's sea capital. The meeting is to testify to the strengthening historical ties between the Russian and British Fleets.