Tributes have been paid to the founder of Plymouth’s Princess Yachts after his death at the age of 84.
King founded Princess in Plymouth in 1965 and dedicated more than six decades to building the company into one of the world’s most respected yacht builders.
A statement from Princess Yachts reads: ‘Princess Yachts is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its founder, David King, following a period of illness.
‘On behalf of everyone at Princess, we extend our deepest sympathies to David’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.’
Although he stepped back from the day-to-day leadership of the business, David remained actively involved until very recently, continuing to spend time with Princess’ development teams and contributing to the future direction of its products.
“For many people, it is difficult to think of Princess without thinking of David,” says 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.
“Characteristically, David never took credit for what Princess has become. He was always the first to recognise the contribution of others, and that humility earned him enormous respect throughout our industry.
“I’m sure the tributes for David will be about the company he founded or the yachts he created, and rightly so. Those achievements speak for themselves. What I’ll remember most, however, is the time he gave so generously to others. 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.”
Early years: David King
Born in Dundee in 1942, King studied engineering at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, while serving in the Royal Navy. It was there that he developed the technical understanding that would underpin his career and help shape his future. In 1965, together with two friends, David founded Marine Projects from a modest waterside shed in Plymouth. Few could have imagined that this small venture would become the Princess Yachts of today, with British-built yachts enjoyed by owners in more than 100 countries around the world.
The company’s first boat, Project 31, sold for £3,400.
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 per cent of production and in 1988 the company received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in recognition of its international success. Today, Princess exports 90 per cent of its production to more than 100 countries worldwide.
The MIN team is deeply saddened by this news and extends our deepest condolences to David King’s family, friends and all those at Princess Yachts.
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