One of the largest paddle steamers afloat in Britain is the H.M.S. Royal Eagle, former peacetime excursion boat which carried passengers on pleasure jaunts from Tower Bridge to Southend, Ramscate and Margate. Commissioned two years ago as a warship of the Royal Navy, the craft has been in action 52 times against enemy aircraft. The Eagle took part in the evacuation from Dunkirk where she was dive-bombed 48 times and brought home nearly 3,000 British troops. Members of the crew cleaning the paddle boxes of H.M.S. Royal Eagle in London on January 18, 1943. (Photo by AP Photo)

Julia Marino of USA in action during the final run of the snowboard slopestyle competition at the Laax Open, in Laax, Switzerland, 17 January 2020. (Photo by Gian Ehrenzeller/EPA/EFE/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren raises his trophy in celebration on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 7, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)

Models showcase designs aboard fishing boats off Ngor Island during the 23rd Dakar Fashion Week, organized by Senegalese-French designer Adama N'Diaye, founder of the brand “Adama Paris”, on December 6, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal. (Photo by Cem Ozdel/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Germany's Darja Varfolomeev competes in the individual all-around final of the Olympic qualifier 40th FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Valencia on August 26, 2023. (Photo by Jose Jordan/AFP Photo)

Michael Cimino, Amanda Diaz and Xochitl Gomez attend the world premiere of “The Flash”, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 12, 2023. (Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters)

English pop singer Shane Fenton, later known as Alvin Stardust, autographing a woman's leg in his dressing room. (Photo by John Pratt/Keystone Features/Getty Images). September 1962

A passenger plane, with a full Harvest moon seen behind, makes its final landing approach towards Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, October 5, 2017. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)