Modifications for the Duke and Duchess of Connaught's India tour included removing main-deck 6-inch guns, earning Renown the nickname battleship yacht. Between royal conversions, she rejoined the Mediterranean Fleet, briefly served as fleet flagship during another ship's refit, took part in manoeuvres off Portugal, and later exercised from reserve. A 1905 refit removed the remainder of the secondary battery for the future George V and Queen Mary, who embarked at Genoa for their India tour under escort by the protected cruiser HMS Terrible. Renown later carried Spain's King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia on an official visit while Spain's navy was still recovering from the earlier war. These duties kept an older warship useful after she had lost much of her original armament.
Notable Point · 25:58-29:54
How Renown became a royal yacht
Successive refits adapted Renown for royal tours and diplomatic travel, trading armament for accommodation and ceremonial usefulness.