Henry's boat has a right royal past

The 80-year-old of Ferry Lane said: "I liked the look of it because it had an open space and was easy to steer. When the owner told me it used to be owned by the queen I was delighted."

He bought it for £1,300 and for the past 16 years he has been slowly renovating it as a part-time hobby, and he now describes his condition 'as the best its ever been in.'

He has called it The Jolly Brit, taking the name from Jolly Boat and Britannia. In the middle of July he entered his boat for the eighth time into the Thames Traditional Boat Rally in Henley-on-Thames, where he came runner up in large open launch category.

He now believes it is worth £100,000, and said: "I go to the rally every year and as I had finished doing the boat up I thought I would do it again. I thought I was going to win."

When he found the boat it had no engine and floorboards and some seats were missing, but he has now restored it completely with a new engine and gear box, floorboards and seats, and a new paint job.

He regularly takes trips with his family and friends, and has been as far as Henley in one direction and the Thames Barrier in the other.

He occasionally sleeps in the boat when on long trips, and added: "I also like to dress up in costume to try and make it authentic, like a lieutenant who would have escorted the queen."

The Royal Yacht Britannia was the official ship of the Royal Family and made 696 visits around the world. The two Jolly Boats were used for 40 years to take people, including the Royal Family to shore while the Britannia anchored off the coast.

Mr Butt said: "It was the boat used by the Queen on a crocodile hunting trip to Gambia in the 60s. The boat was used because it was shallower and could easily go into creaks. I always make sure to tell people where she sat when they come onto the boat."

Mr Butt and the Jolly Brit have been invited to the Sunbury Regatta to take place on Saturday August 15.