Buckingham Palace had lobbied Downing Street for a £50million Royal Yacht replacement, according to newly-released documents.
Queen Elizabeth II was hugely fond of the Royal Yacht Britannia, having been pictured shedding a tear during its decommissioning in 1997.
However, the Royal Family could not be seen to be influencing political decision-making.
The yacht was eventually decommissioned on December 11, 1997, despite Palace officials attempting to lobby Sir John Major's Government to replace it for £50million, as Cabinet Office papers released by the National Archives have demonstrated.
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|Buckingham Palace officials lobbied No 10 to replace Queen's Royal Yacht
According to the files, Palace courtiers invited civil servants to a "splendid lunch" on the yacht to advocate for its replacement.
In addition, Sir Robert Fellows, the late Queen’s private secretary, privately approached No 10 to enquire whether the then-Prime Minister would stress the "inestimable value" of the yacht during an address to the House of Commons.
He asked Alex Allan, Sir John Major's principal private secretary, whether the then-Prime Minister would stress the importance of Britannia.
Sir Robert wanted Major to tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost “but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us” in their public duties.
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|The Royal Yacht Britannia at Doha, Qatar, during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1979
He added: “It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country.
“I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia.
”Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter.”
Major's Government announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year.
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|Queen Elizabeth II visibly showed her emotion as the yacht was being decommissioned
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|Queen Elizabeth II pictured on board the Royal Yacht Britannia with Prince Philip in 1986
However, Tony Blair won the 1997 general election in a landslide victory, and ultimately decommissioned Britannia.
The yacht is now based in Leith, Edinburgh and is open to visitors.
At the time, support for the Royal Family was at an all-time low, as taxpayers footed the £36million bill for the restoration of Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire.
Three of the late Queen's four children, King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, all divorced their spouses between 1992 and 1996, resulting in lower support for the Royal Family.
Queen Elizabeth II later described 1992 as her “annus horribilis”, a Latin phrase meaning "horrible year".