In Memoriam: Princess Yachts Founder David King passes away

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of David King, the founder of Princess Yachts, following a period of illness.

David King Princess Yachts Founder passes away

King founded Princess Yachts in Plymouth, United Kingdom in 1965 and dedicated more than six decades to building the company. Although he stepped back from the day-to-day leadership of the business, he remained actively involved until very recently.

“For many people, it is difficult to think of Princess without thinking of David,” commented Princess Yachts Chief Executive Officer Will Green. “That says everything about the contribution he made over more than six decades but it only tells part of the story.”

Born in Dundee in 1942, King studied engineering at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth while serving in the Royal Navy. In 1965, together with two friends, David founded Marine Projects from a modest waterside shed in Plymouth.

The company's first boat, Project 31, sold for £3,400 and it was after this that the three founders discovered it had cost £3,460 to build. They went on to sell two more boats, marking the start of their career as boat builders.  

Britain's specialist marine supply chain was still in its infancy, so many of the skills and capabilities needed to build world-class yachts had to be developed from within. Rather than relocating production overseas as many British manufacturers were doing at the time, he continued to invest in the city and the surrounding region, creating thousands of skilled jobs.

In 1982, Princess launched the Princess 45, then the largest production motor yacht built in the United Kingdom. By the early 1990s, exports accounted for more than sixty percent of production and in 1988 the company received the Queen's Award for Export Achievement in recognition of its international success.

According to Princess Yachts, King never took credit for what the company had become and was always the first to recognise the contribution of others. “What I'll remember most, however, is the time he gave so generously to others,” added Green. 

“I was fortunate to know David not only as our founder, but also as a mentor. Particularly as I took on the role of CEO, his guidance, encouragement and quiet support meant a great deal to me and are something I will always be grateful for.”

“David always looked to the future. So, I believe the greatest tribute we can pay him is to continue the work he cared so deeply about by building exceptional yachts with the same curiosity, humility and attention to detail that defined his life, ensuring the company he loved continues to flourish for generations to come."

SuperYacht Times extends its deepest condolences to David King’s family, friends and all those at Princess Yachts during this time of loss.