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More than 20,000 people lined the Mersey to watch Cunard's Queen Elizabeth sail out of her 'spiritual home' after the first overnight call by a Cunard ship in nearly 50 years.

The ship was in town to celebrate 100 years since the maiden voyage of Aquitania, famed as the most striking four-funneled liner ever constructed and known as the 'Ship Beautiful', which sailed from the same berth on May 30, 1914.

Queen Victoria was greeted at the beginning of her two-day stay by fly-board champion Jay St John, who was propelled 50 feet up in the air by two water jets attached to his feet to exchange salutes with the Cunard Commodore at the ship's bow. 

Grand send-off: A firework display and a gathering of around 20,000 people bid farewell to Cunard's Queen Victoria

The fly-boarder also entertained disembarking passengers and the crowds of people along the dockside who had come to see the ship arrive.

A full day of visits and special events on board the ship to mark the Aquitania anniversary culminated with a dazzling fireworks display against the backdrop of the city's Three Graces, the Royal Liver Building, the Port of Liverpool Building and the Cunard Building, where the company had its headquarters for over 50 years until 1967 and which was especially illuminated for the evening.

As Queen Victoria prpared to take her leave, huge crowds began gathering along the waterfront.

On the waterfront: IT was the first overnight visit by a Cunard ship in nearly 50 years

Off to a flying start: Flying start: Commodore Christopher Rynd Master is greeted by flyboarder Jay St John as the Queen Victoria arrives in Liverpool

Local opera singer Danielle Thomas performed as the ship sailed at 4pm to waves and cheers from the twenty-thousand-strong crowd. 

Cunard will mark its 175th anniversary in 2015 and all three Cunard Queens will sail together on the Mersey for the first ever time on 25 May 2015 as part of the company's year of celebration.

Commodore of the Cunard fleet and Master of Queen Victoria Christopher Rynd said: 'Having now had the privilege of bringing of all three ships of the current Cunard fleet into Liverpool I can say that the overnight visit and the send off given by the people of that great city to Queen Victoria was truly first class and will live long in the memory.  

Making an entrance: Queen Victoria arrived in Liverpool on Friday and stayed for the weekend

'I am looking forward to 2015 and our 175th anniversary celebrations when all three Cunard ships will gather on the Mersey. The fleet is coming!'