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)

Guests attend preview event for “Candytopia”, the outrageously interactive candy wonderland, opening in San Francisco, USA on September 6, 2018. (Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for Candytopia)

A supporter dressed as flamingo cheers on the riders during the 12th stage of the 102nd Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy – cycle race, 158kms from Cuneo to Pinerolo on May 23, 2019. (Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP Photo)

NHRA funny car driver Alexis DeJoria suffers an engine fire after winning her first round matchup during the Fall Nationals at Texas Motorplex on October18, 2020 in Ennis, Texas. DeJoria would be uninjured in the fiery incident. (Photo by Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

Visitors take masks off to take pictures as hydrangea flowers are fully blooming at Meigetsu-in Buddhist temple Friday, June 11, 2021, in Kamakura, south of Tokyo. (Photo by Kiichiro Sato/AP Photo)

Turkey's Yamaha rider Toprak Razgatlioglu celebrates winning the world championship during the World Superbike Championship at the Mandalika International Circuit in Kuta Mandalika, in central Lombok on November 21, 2021. (Photo by Bay Ismoyo/AFP Photo)

Italy's Giada Greggi, Elena Linari and teammates celebrate after qualifying for the Women's Euro 2025, in Bolzano, Italy on July 16, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Lorenzini/Reuters)

A performer entertains the crowd during a rally in support of the leader of the Cameroonian opposition party Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) in Yaounde, on September 30, 2018, prior to the upcoming October 7, presidential elections. (Photo by Marco Longari/AFP Photo)